Suspect arrested in armed robbery of Bozeman, Belgrade gas stations and hotel

An unidentified suspect was in custody Tuesday after attempting to rob hotels and a gas station with a knife, Bozeman Police said Wednesday.

A hotel near North 7th Avenue and Oak Street first reported that a man with a knife robbed the hotel of cash then fled the scene at 2:17 a.m. Less than a half-hour later, a gas station near East Main and North Broadway also reported a man with a knife robbed the station and fled.

At approximately 3:08 a.m., Belgrade Police officers responded to a reported robbery at the Town Pump located at 206 W. Jefferson. The suspect fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival, Belgrade Police said.

Belgrade Police Detectives assumed the investigation and, in coordination with the Bozeman Police Department, identified the same person of interest.

No one was injured during any of the robberies, police said, adding that the description of the man and details of each incident indicated the robberies were related.

Bozeman Police officers quickly arrived at both businesses and began investigating. Detectives from the Bozeman Police Department Major Crimes Unit soon responded and took over both investigations.

Officers were advised a short time later that a similar incident occurred in Belgrade shortly after the two Bozeman robberies.

The suspect was placed in custody in another jurisdiction on separate charges. Detectives are actively working with the Belgrade Police Department on all three incidents, Bozeman Police said.

There does not appear to be any further risk to the public.

The Montana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole, Montana State University Police Department, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, the Belgrade Police Department, and Montana Highway Patrol all participated in the investigation.