Ogden man involved in Wendover police shootout charged with attempted murder
An Ogden man has been charged with attempted murder and possessing a homemade bomb after police said he shot up a Wendover, Nevada, strip club and tried to kill two police officers Nov. 17, 2016. Anthony Christopher Martinez, 30, also is under investigation in the armed robbery of Mountain America Credit Union in Ogden earlier that day.
Members of law enforcement try to dismantle a possible explosive device inside a vehicle in West Wendover, Nev., Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. A suspect in an armed robbery in Utah hours earlier was critically wounded in a shootout with police near the Nevada-Utah line after he allegedly fired his gun inside a strip club, fled the scene and crashed outside a Nevada casino along Interstate 80, authorities said Friday. Authorities in Nevada recovered multiple firearms from the suspect's car, and a bomb squad robot disarmed a possible explosive device found inside.
Members of law enforcement try to dismantle a possible explosive device inside a vehicle in West Wendover, Nev., Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. A suspect in an armed robbery in Utah hours earlier was critically wounded in a shootout with police near the Nevada-Utah line after he allegedly fired his gun inside a strip club, fled the scene and crashed outside a Nevada casino along Interstate 80, authorities said Friday. Authorities in Nevada recovered multiple firearms from the suspect's car, and a bomb squad robot disarmed a possible explosive device found inside.
An Ogden man has been charged with attempted murder and possessing a homemade bomb after police said he shot up a Wendover, Nevada, strip club and tried to kill two police officers Nov. 17.
Anthony Christopher Martinez, 30, also is under investigation in the armed robbery of Mountain America Credit Union in Ogden earlier that day.
Using a handgun, Martinez clubbed a doorman who asked him for ID and fired a shot into the club, shattering a window and damaging a wall, a probable cause affidavit by the Elko County Sheriff’s Office said. The man fled in a car with Utah plates, and West Wendover police chased him.
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After the car crashed in a casino parking lot, the driver got out and began firing a handgun at the officers, the court document said. The officers returned fire and Martinez was critically wounded, the affidavit said. Police said they found a Glock handgun that had been used to fire 10 rounds at the officers.
Martinez was hospitalized in Salt Lake City. He recovered and was taken to the Utah State Prison to resume serving time on felony gun and drug convictions from 2011 and 2013.
The Elko County District Attorney’s Office has filed three felony charges against Martinez: two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon and a charge of possessing an explosive or incendiary device.
In charging documents filed Nov. 18, prosecutors said police found a crudely made explosive device in Martinez’s car and materials that could have been used to make more bombs.
Elko Sheriff’s Lt. Kevin McKinney said he found a roll of bills in a pocket of Martinez’s jeans, which had been cut off him by paramedics, plus two $20 bills on the ground. He called Ogden investigators, who said the credit union had included five $20 “bait” bills with the money taken in the robbery. The recorded serial numbers of the bait bills matched five bills found at the shootout scene, McKinney said.
The FBI is leading the bank robbery investigation, said spokeswoman Sandra Barker in Salt Lake City. There was no new information as of Friday, she said. Charges have not yet been filed against him in that case.
Second District Court records show Martinez pleaded guilty to felony drug possession in 2011 and to felony possession of a weapon by a dangerous person in 2013. He received sentences of up to five years in prison in both cases.
In the latter case, Martinez was arrested by Ogden police responding to a report of a man with a gun in front of Motel 6 on Washington Boulevard. Police said Martinez fled and resisted arrest. They said they found a loaded handgun in his pants pocket.
Weber County prosecutors said in court documents Martinez’s real name is Christopher Gallegos. His jail and court records are littered with aliases, including “Demon” and “Sleepy.”
You can reach reporter Mark Shenefelt at mshenefelt@standard.net or 801 625-4224. Follow him on Twitter at @mshenefelt and like him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SEmarkshenefelt.