Published Oct 16, 2008
A 20-year-old Española man and his three companions were banned from Valley National Bank Oct. 10 after he joked about robbing the bank.
Fabian Madrid and Joseph Salazar, 19, entered the bank around 11:20 a.m., and Madrid “stood around scoping out the bank” while Salazar asked for coin wrappers, Valley National Bank Vice President Rick Carlisle said last week.
“(Madrid) said he was going to rob the (expletive) bank,” Carlisle said. “He probably was just joking, but we take that kind of threat seriously.”
The loan assistant who heard the threat said Madrid immediately followed it by saying, “just kidding,” then left with Salazar. Two or three minutes later Madrid returned alone and got coin wrappers from a teller, the loan assistant said.
Española Police were already on their way.
“They showed up quickly, and in force,” Carlisle said of the officers, who searched the car Madrid and Salazar arrived in, which belonged to Alyssa Gonzales, 16.
Sgt. Richard Gallegos said no weapons were found in the car — only trash. A fourth person with the group, Joseph Salazar, 19, was also questioned.
“I don’t think (Madrid) realized the severity of it at the time,” Gallegos said. “We made (the four individuals) aware you don’t do stuff like that, you don’t make those comments anywhere, especially in the bank. These things are taken very seriously.”
All four members of the party were given lawful orders to stay off Valley National Bank property, under threat of being arrested for criminal trespassing if they return, Gallegos said. The four didn’t waste any time piling in Gonzales’ car and leaving the scene as soon as the officers released them.
“We have to take safety precautions,” Carlisle said. “It’s kind of like saying you’re going to bring a bomb on an airplane.”