Officials ask public’s help identifying Utah bank robber

Authorities released this surveillance photo of a suspect who reportedly robbed a Utah bank at gunpoint, Midway, Utah, Aug. 9, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Authorities are asking the public’s help in identifying a man who reportedly robbed a northern Utah bank at gunpoint Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities released this surveillance photo of a suspect who reportedly robbed a Utah bank at gunpoint, Midway, Utah, Aug. 9, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

At approximately 2 p.m., deputies responded to a bank robbery alarm at the Grand Valley Bank located at 92 W. Main in Midway, the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

“Witnesses at the bank reported the suspect brandished a handgun while demanding cash,” officials said.

Witnesses described the suspect as a Caucasian man approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a gray-colored, long-sleeved shirt, dark pants and white shoes, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The man was wearing black gloves, black sunglasses and a backpack on the front of his chest, along with a blue bandana over the lower-half of his face, officials said. He also draped a folded white towel over part of his head.

After demanding money, the suspect left the bank on foot, traveling north on 100 West, officials said.

A photo of the suspect taken from bank surveillance footage is included in this report.

Anyone with information on the identity of the man, his whereabouts or any information on the robbery itself is encouraged to call the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office at 435-654-1411.

Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, along with officers from the Heber City Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol, the Utah State Parks and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are assisting with the investigation.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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13 Comments

  • ladybugavenger August 9, 2017 at 11:39 am

    It would be awesome if the teller pulled out a gun and shot him….that would teach them thieves.

  • Caveat_Emptor August 9, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    This has to be one of the poorest surveillance photographs ever circulated, because the guy has excessive head/face covering.
    Many businesses still promote the “No shirt, no shoes, no service” mantra. Perhaps it is time for banks, and credit unions, to start requiring their customers to remove sunglasses and scarves that covers the face, before they enter the premises, if they want service. At least these thieves would stick out from the rest of the legit customers, if they fail to comply. It would alert bank employees earlier in the “visit”, and silent alarms could be triggered.
    My old Chase Bank in Sugarhouse installed ceiling height plexiglass (bullet stopping) shields between the tellers, and their customers, after a few robberies. They had HD video equipment which would produce excellent records of the attempted robbery. Prospective bad guys/ladies know most of these businesses will offer no resistance to the robbery. It just seems like we could be a tad less “welcoming”……

    • comments August 9, 2017 at 3:27 pm

      why don’t they just require all the customers to get fully naked while there at it. Or do like the airports and bodyscan us like cattle

  • Sedona August 9, 2017 at 12:46 pm

    Wouldn’t you think that anyone who walked into a bank looking like this bafoon would trip an alarm before the robbery took place?
    But, I keep on forgetting….”when seconds count the police are minutes away”

    Too bad Utahguns or one of the other gun friendly commenters wasn’t there. 🙂

    • comments August 9, 2017 at 3:28 pm

      it never goes like the movies. don’t try to be a hero.

      • comments August 9, 2017 at 3:29 pm

        if anyone can afford to be robbed it’s banks. not worth people dying just trying to be a hero

        • ladybugavenger August 10, 2017 at 10:00 am

          That is the theory. But did you know that teller may suffer lifelong effects from the trauma of having a gun pulled on him/her at work? its called terror and anyone who causes terror is a terrorist. Catch the bastard!

          • comments August 10, 2017 at 12:24 pm

            Yes LB. But most of these idiots carrying around these pistols in their pockets or belt aren’t properly trained to use them in a high pressure situation. They’d likely end up shooting some innocent bystander or themself. If the perp starts shooting or assaulting people that he’s taken hostage it’s another story. Until then, don’t try to be a hero.

          • ladybugavenger August 10, 2017 at 10:31 pm

            Yeah, I know you’re right Bob. I would just like to turn the terror back on them, but you’re right, it’s not like movies.

          • ladybugavenger August 10, 2017 at 10:45 pm

            In 1995, I worked at the gas station on valley view and sunset. It’s not the same gas station there today. We use to call it the dirty little store on the corner. One night I was closing. My husband at the time was there with me and we had our son in the stroller. I took the trash out and came back in. I locked the door. I was by the soda machine with my son next to me. Then a man walked in with a green hooded sweatshirt, a pointed what looked like a gun under his sweatshirt. He said something, to this day I don’t know what he said. I screamed! My husband came out of the cooler and told the guy to get out and the guy left. I called the police. They came. I recognized the guy. I went into shock. My husband took me home. My body temp dropped. He turned the heater on to 90 degrees to warm me up. I was shaking. I survived. A few days later, the detective called me and said they found the guy. He said, he was just playing a joke and they charged him with criminal mischief. To this day, I don’t believe he was there to rob the store but he was there for me. He didn’t know my husband was there. And I will always believe a co worker gave him the keys to the gas station. I tried to go back to work but they wouldn’t get an alarm and I couldn’t work, I wa too scared. It affected me for a long time. I didn’t know what I know now. And I didn’t trust anyone to help me.

            I can’t imagine what it would be like to see a real gun and being robbed. But I’m afraid if it happened to me, I might snap and try and grab the gun and choke the person.

          • comments August 11, 2017 at 12:08 pm

            Yea LB. PTSD is a real thing. I’ve got from things I’ve seen and been thru. It never really goes away and thankfully mine isn’t bad and i’m able to cope. But you get a gun pointed at u and it will happen. not good

  • Mike Carter August 9, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    I highly doubt that any amount of signs on the door will prevent a robbery, so you’re saying that a robber is walking in and sees a sign that says no sunglasses or hats and he’s like, well …. Probably not, but keep up with the awesome comments.
    Ed. ellipsis.

  • Not_So_Much August 10, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Firearms should only be used when someone’s life is at risk and then only by someone with proper training. Take the money and run.

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