Courtesy Photos of suspected bank robber and his hands and weapon used in the robbery

By Roger Lanse

Silver City police officers were dispatched to the Wells Fargo Bank at 1201 Pope Street on Friday, May 19, at approximately 5:33 p.m., in reference to an armed robbery that had just occurred.

According to a SCPD incident report, bank employees and witnesses told officers that a tall, Caucasian male wearing all green camo, a camo fishing hat, and dark glasses entered the bank through the north side doors, walked up to a teller, pointed a black handgun at her, and aggressively demanded money from the teller. The frightened teller handed the robber the tray from the top drawer, and the male grabbed the money from the tray and ran out the north side doors, the report stated.

A witness followed the robber, the report said, and noted the thief ran across the parking lot of the Edward Jones business and got into the rear passenger door of a white car, later identified as a Honda Civic 4-door EX with chrome rims, blackout taillights and a sunroof. The vehicle had white, out-of-state plates. This witness also stated, the white car left north on Pope Street, turning right on 14th Street past Sonic.

Outside video tapes showed the getaway car was driven by another male in a black shirt or jacket. Bank video photos of the male in camo and the white car were sent to surrounding agencies.

Although several officers attempted to locate the white Honda, none had contact. Dispatch was advised to notify the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, New Mexico State Police, and all Tri-City departments. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who were already notified by Wells Fargo managers, advised they were en route from Las Cruces.

After FBI agents arrived, were briefed, and had completed their investigation, all employees were escorted to their vehicles. SCPD officers again began to attempt to locate the white vehicle within the city limits with negative contact.