Gunman robs Ellis Tanners

A Gallup Police Officer stands outside the Ellis Tanner Trading Company on Hwy 602 Friday morning white S.W.A.T. officers search the building. A lone gunman stormed into the trading post around 9:20 a.m. and left moments later with an undisclosed amount of cash. Preliminary reports said the robber was still inside with hostages, but the S.W.A.T. search proved otherwise. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

Gallup Community Service Aide John Meister guards the pay phone on the northeast side of the intersection of Second Street and Aztec Avenue on Friday morning until investigators can arrive to process it. Gallup McKinley County Metro Dispatch recieved a call from this phone at about 9:15 a.m. and were told someone was going to rob a downtown business with a pipe bomb. Less that ten minutes later a lone gunman robbed Ellis Tanner Trading Post. Officials have not linked the two incidents, but Gallup Police Department Spokeswoman Investigator Erin Toadlena-Pablo said the phone call could have been a diversionary tactic for the Tanner robbery. Another person had used the pay phone before police could secure it so it could not be used as evidence. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

GALLUP — A man, armed with a handgun, robbed the Ellis Tanner Trading Company on Friday morning and sparked a citywide manhunt.

Local dispatchers broadcast the young man's description over police airways shortly after the suspect fled the trading post at about 9:23 a.m. The first officer arrived at the scene a minute after one of the business's employees reported the robbery at 9:24 a.m.

Reports initially indicated the suspect was still inside the business and had taken hostages. However, police evacuated the building and S.W.A.T team members searched the business's two levels, but found no suspect or hostages. No injuries were reported.

Investigator Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department, said the suspect is described as a Native American male who weighs about 145 pounds. He was wearing black pants, a black pull-over and white gloves. He also wore a grey or white bandanna to disguise his face and was carrying a small black duffel bag. He also wore sunglasses.

The lone suspect drove south from the trading post in a red sports utility vehicle. A black plastic film covered the vehicle's license plate.

Moments later, officers blocked off a pay phone, located on the north side of Second Street and Aztec Avenue, with police tape as part of the department's investigation. Toadlena-Pablo said an unidentified person called police from the pay phone shortly before the robbery at about 9:15 a.m. and said a downtown business was going to be robbed with a pipe bomb. Officials are currently trying to get copies of the recorded phone call to find out more information about the caller.

In response to the call, Toadlena-Pablo said there was a large concentration of officers in the downtown area because department officials figured one of the nearby banks could be a target. But the crime scene tape was removed from the pay phone when officers realized someone had already used the phone since the call came in. However, officials have not linked the two incidents.

"It could have been a diversion tactic," Toadlena-Pablo said.

The suspect did flee the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. Anyone with information about the robbery, is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 722-6161. The organization is offering a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the conviction of the suspect.