The Days Inn in Bozeman was robbed at gunpoint over the weekend, a robbery that police have not ruled out as being related to others that took place recently in Bozeman, Butte and Whitehall.

A man entered the Days Inn at about 4 p.m. Sunday, brandished a handgun and demanded money from the register, according to Bozeman police. An employee gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and the man fled on foot. No one was injured in the incident.

As of Monday morning, the man had not been located or identified.

The man is described as 5’8” with a thin build, weighing about 160 pounds. He is Caucasian, under 30 years old with short brown hair and clean shaven. He was wearing a gray under-armor hoodie and blue jeans.

Last week, law enforcement agencies in Bozeman, Butte-Silver Bow and Jefferson County asked for the public’s help to identify a suspect involved in a recent string of robberies.

The most recent robberies took place Monday, Nov. 9. At about 10:50 p.m. Monday a man entered the Thriftway store at 1900 South Montana Street in Butte next to Interstate 90, brandished a handgun at an employee and demanded money. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

About 30 minutes after the robbery in Butte, another armed robbery was reported at a casino in Whitehall. Also in this incident, a man reportedly entered the business and brandished a handgun at an employee. He then fled after receiving the money.

The suspect is described as a male in his 20s, 5’8” to 5’10” with a medium build. The suspect was clean shaven with short dark hair.  He was wearing a blue and black jacket, a camouflage baseball hat and sunglasses.

Robberies have also been reported in the Bozeman area recently.

On Friday, Oct. 23 at about 11 p.m., a man reportedly entered the Lucky Lil’s casino at 2401 West Main Street, wearing a mask and brandishing a black handgun. The robber demanded money from the employees and made off with undetermined amount of cash. The suspect fled on foot and was followed for a short distance by a patron, but attempts to locate the individual by using a K9 unit were unsuccessful, according to Lt. Rich McLane.

The male is described as "skinny," between 5'7" and 5'10" tall, in his 20s. He was last seen wearing a red scarf, a white sweatshirt and green plaid pajama-style pants. 

Another robbery was reported at the Fairfield in at 800 Wheat Drive in Bozeman on Friday, Nov. 6 when a man reportedly entered the business and brandished a black handgun, possibly semi-automatic, and demanded money from a female employee inside the hotel.

After she gave him the money, the employee was ordered to the floor and told not to get up.

The suspect in this robbery was described as a younger male, but older than high school age, between 5’ 7” and 5’10” tall with a medium build and wearing a green zip-up hoodie and black framed oversized sunglasses.

Bozeman police issued a news release Thursday, Nov. 12 saying in light of recent robberies, the Bozeman Police Department is working with the Butte Silver-Bow Law Enforcement Agency and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and following through on any leads that may indicate these crimes are related. 

Police are asking anyone with information related to identifying this suspect to call the Bozeman Police Department at 582-2000, or Crimestoppers at 586-1131.  Persons with information may be eligible for a cash reward and may remain anonymous.  Information can also be submitted at policetips@bozeman.net. 

In light of a recent string of robberies, the Bozeman Police Department issued these suggestions for local businesses and their employees in the event they are the victims of a robbery:

-          Turn over the demanded money if it is available.  Do not argue.  No amount of money is worth your life.

-          If the robber demands money you do not have access to (for example money in a safe), explain that you can not comply with their demand.  It should be made clear that you are not refusing to do as you are told, but are simply unable to comply.

-          If possible take note the offender’s physical features.  This can be very important for police investigation. In particular:

• Note the physical size of the suspect. Are they thin, or heavy?  How tall are they?
• Note any distinguishing marks. Do they have any visible scars or tattoos?
• Note distinguishing clothing characteristics.  What is the color of the clothing and what type? (Grey sweater? Blue nylon jacket? Tan carhartt pants or tan slacks, etc.) Does the clothing have any distinguishing labels or designs?
• Note any distinguishing physical characteristics.  Does the offender have crooked teeth?  Acne? Freckles? 
• Note the appearance of any weapons used.  Note the color (finish) of the gun and type (revolver, semi-auto, rifle or shotgun, knife, etc.) If possible, note any specific characteristics of the weapon. (Wooden or plastic grips, etc)

-Take note of any items or areas that the offender touches.  This may be useful for investigators to obtain fingerprints.

                -Call 911 immediately as soon as the offender leaves.  Secure your business and let the dispatcher know you are doing this so responding officers are aware the suspect is gone, and not inside the now locked business.  If you can safely do so, observe which way the offender goes.  If the offender enters a vehicle obtain as much information as you can about the make, model, color, plate number or other distinguishing characteristics and relay this to the dispatcher. 

                -Secure the area.  Don’t touch or move anything the offender may have touched.  Don’t let anyone into the area without first allowing law enforcement to process the scene.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Bozeman Police Department Detective Division at (406) 582-2010.

(From Nov. 12, 2009)

Law enforcement agencies in Bozeman, Butte-Silver Bow and Jefferson County are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect involved in a recent string of robberies.

The most recent robberies took place Monday, Nov. 9. At about 10:50 p.m. Monday a man entered the Thriftway store at 1900 South Montana Street next to Interstate 90, brandished a handgun at an employee and demanded money. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

About 30 minutes after the robbery in Butte, another armed robbery was reported at a casino in Whitehall. Also in this incident, a man reportedly entered the business and brandished a handgun at an employee. He then fled after receiving the money.

The suspect is described as a male in his 20s, 5’8” to 5’10” with a medium build. The suspect was clean shaven with short dark hair.  He was wearing a blue and black jacket, a camouflage baseball hat and sunglasses.

Robberies have also been reported in the Bozeman area recently.

On Friday, Oct. 23 at about 11 p.m., a man reportedly entered the Lucky Lil’s casino at 2401 West Main Street, wearing a mask and brandishing a black handgun. The robber demanded money from the employees and made off with undetermined amount of cash. The suspect fled on foot and was followed for a short distance by a patron, but attempts to locate the individual by using a K9 unit were unsuccessful, according to Lt. Rich McLane.

The male is described as "skinny," between 5'7" and 5'10" tall, in his 20s. He was last seen wearing a red scarf, a white sweatshirt and green plaid pajama-style pants. 

Another robbery was reported at the Fairfield in at 800 Wheat Drive in Bozeman on Friday, Nov. 6 when a man reportedly entered the business and brandished a black handgun, possibly semi-automatic, and demanded money from a female employee inside the hotel.

After she gave him the money, the employee was ordered to the floor and told not to get up.

The suspect in this robbery was described as a younger male, but older than high school age, between 5’ 7” and 5’10” tall with a medium build and wearing a green zip-up hoodie and black framed oversized sunglasses.

Bozeman police issued a news release Thursday, saying in light of recent robberies, the Bozeman Police Department is working with the Butte Silver-Bow Law Enforcement Agency and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and following through on any leads that may indicate these crimes are related. 

Police are asking anyone with information related to identifying this suspect to call the Bozeman Police Department at 582-2000, or Crimestoppers at 586-1131.  Persons with information may be eligible for a cash reward and may remain anonymous.  Information can also be submitted at policetips@bozeman.net.