PD seeks man seen in video

This surveillance video shows a man who walked into the office of a Tse Bonito business and took cash. [Courtesy photo]

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — Investigators released surveillance footage of a man who stole an undisclosed amount of cash from a Tse Bonito gas station Wednesday.

Navajo Nation police officers and McKinley County sheriff’s deputies were initially called to the Giant gas station at about 11 a.m. in reference to what was thought to be a robbery. But after further investigation, authorities learned the man stole the money from the gas station’s office that was left unlocked and open to the public.

“They changed the status to a larceny,” Sgt. Albert Benally of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department said.

Authorities looked into several leads, including a potential suspect who died of alcohol poisoning in Navajo Wednesday night; however, nothing has panned out.

“We’re back to square one,” Benally said of the inquiry.
According to the surveillance footage that was taken from the business, the suspect walked into the business’ office and took the money without any incident. He then fled the gas station through a back door.

The suspect is Native American and between 5 feet 6 and 5 foot 10 inches tall. He was wearing a white T-shirt with an American flag printed on the front, blue jeans and a baseball cap.

Benally said a delivery man walked through the same area the suspect did, just seconds before the theft took place.

Anyone with information about the larceny, including customers who were at the gas station Wednesday morning, is asked to call the sheriff’s department at (505) 722-7205 or CrimeStoppers at (505) 722-6161.

CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the case.