Thoreau man charged with store robbery

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A 23-year-old Thoreau man is in police custody in connection with the attempted armed robbery of a Thoreau convenience store early Thursday morning.

Marcus Platero is facing charges ranging from attempted robbery to aggravated assault for allegedly attempting to rob the Giant gas station on Hwy. 371 in Thoreau minutes after midnight.

Sgt. A Benally, of the McKinley County Sheriff's Department, said Platero put his arm around the clerk's neck and demanded he hand over the store's cash. Platero was reportedly armed with a knife during the attempted robbery and also threatened customers with the weapon. During the incident, witnesses said Platero stated "he felt like robbing the store."

When witnesses recognized Platero, he allegedly fled the business without any of the store's cash. He was not wearing anything to disguise his face, authorities said.

Store employees and witnesses were able to give authorities a detailed description of the getaway vehicle along with Platero's name.

Benally said Crownpoint police subsequently arrested Platero at his residence on County Road 566 because it was located on tribal land. He remains in custody in Crownpoint. Authorities expect to extradite Platero to McKinley County within the next few days, so he can face charges related to the attempted robbery.

Benally said Platero tried to discard the clothing he reportedly wore during the incident. Authorities also found a knife inside Platero's car in between the center console and the driver's seat, he said.