Tellers threatened in heist

MONTROSE — Video cameras captured a masked gunman pointing his semi-automatic at Vectra Bank employees during a robbery there Tuesday morning.

According to allegations in an arrest affidavit for Jude A. Duran that was released Wednesday afternoon, he demanded money from tellers and told one employee: “It’s not worth it; I’ll blow your (expletive) head off” before fleeing the bank with a plastic bag full of money.

Duran was captured less than an hour later by Montrose County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Fritzlan.

Police Chief Tom Chinn gave Fritzlan and other investigators kudos Wednesday, but especially praised the passerby who alerted authorities when he saw a gun-toting man enter the bank — and also called later, when he spotted the suspect vehicle.

“I think the case might have been solved anyway, but he certainly helped us tremendously,” Chinn said. “Those people did a great, great job and service for us. A lot of people aren’t going to make a phone call. These people did. ... The case is solved because of them.”

Vectra public relations consultant Lisa Culver said the bank was planning how best to recognize everyone who had a hand in the capture.

“They want to be sure they properly thank the people responsible for making sure this person got caught and (the bank) didn’t sustain a loss,” she said. “It’s just wonderful someone stepped forward.”

According to the affidavit, a male witness told police he was at Checker Auto Parts store on South Townsend Avenue, when he saw a man don a black “beanie” and enter Vectra Bank with a handgun held down along his leg.

The witness was able to obtain a partial Colorado license plate number on the suspect vehicle, a white Honda pickup, and provide it to authorities.

The witness was driving down South Highway 550 a short time later with his family, when he again spotted the Honda and saw that it now sported a New Mexico license plate. He followed it and watched its driver throw out a plastic sack, the affidavit said.

Before the new information about the plates could be relayed, Fritzlan stopped the truck. He released it, thinking he had the wrong vehicle, but was able to quickly stop it again after he was informed about the license plate switch.

The Honda’s driver, later identified as Duran, 29, of Flora Vista, N.M., was taken into custody without incident.

The affidavit alleged Duran admitted to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents that he’d robbed the bank. He reportedly consented to a search of his truck, from which investigators say they recovered the money and the firearm used in the heist.

Authorities also recovered clothing they believe Duran wore during the robbery and a Colorado license plate they allege was stolen.

Police held Duran on suspicion of aggravated robbery, theft between $1,000 and $20,000 and felony menacing.

Wednesday, bond was set at $100,000, cash-only and $150,000, cash or surety through a bondsman, for a total bail amount of $250,000.

Duran was advised at the same time of possible charges, which have not been formally filed. The district attorney’s office was given until May 20 to file formal charges. Formal advisement was set for May 22.

According to information from the Montrose Combined Courts, the district attorney is considering whether to request federal prosecution. In that event, the case would be handled by the U.S. Attorney’s office.