Investigators believe four cousins spent hours together planning and conducting a series of robberies, including a botched robbery that ended in the death of a chef.
Police detectives have been after the suspects for some time and have nicknamed them the "preppy bandits." They earned the name from the way they dressed during the robberies and the fact they are "college-type kids," explained Salt Lake Police Lt. Jim Bell.Each has been charged with at least one count of aggravated robbery. Police believe the foursome teamed together to pull off five robberies since March and possibly more.
"We're looking at a great deal of others throughout the valley, too," said detective Ray Dalling.
Police believe a group of four men watched their targets for hours before committing the robberies. "They held weekly meetings planning their activities, where they were going to hit next," Bell said. In most cases, all four were allegedly involved.
"They were very meticulous," Dalling said.
One or two members of the team usually went inside the business or home - armed with handguns - to commit the actual robberies. Another, also armed, would stay just outside the door. The other person would usually be either strategically placed to delay potential witnesses who might try to chase after the suspects or the person would drive a "cover car" to confuse witnesses, Dalling explained.
"They're very intelligent people, except they picked the wrong profession," he said.
Investigators noticed some similarities in the preppy-bandit cases and the attempted robbery at the Green Parrot Cafe on May 17. During that robbery, Merritt Riordan, 29, Salt Lake City, was shot to death when he apparently surprised a pair of robbers in the basement of the downtown private club.
The gunmen wore bandanas over the bottoms of their faces, just as did the men in some of the preppy robberies. As they ran up the stairs after killing Riordan and out the back door, one of them pointed his gun at other employees, who dropped to the floor.
Other similarities caused detectives to wonder if the slaying was related to the robberies. "We thought out of our suspicious nature they could be connected but really didn't know," Bell said.
The big break came Saturday when Dalling, who was off-duty, heard over his police radio a report of a robbery as he was driving downtown. He responded to the Tool Shed, 402 E. Sixth Ave., to investigate.
A gunman, wearing a bandana, black wig and green hat, grabbed money from the cash register and left. Two clerks followed him and tackled him outside. But the clerks let him go after a second gunman appeared. Both suspects hopped into a nearby vehicle and fled.
Two witnesses chased after the suspects until a third man in a vehicle stopped them and said, "I saw them, I'll go get them," Dalling said. That man apparently followed the suspects and returned to the store that had been robbed.
Dalling said he immediately recognized that man as one of the main suspects in the preppy-bandit robberies. The 19-year-old man gave the detective a fake description of the vehicle, apparently to throw police off course.
"But his information didn't click," Dalling said. And the 19-year-old was arrested five days later. "He was the stall that night."
Nathan Lyle Galli, 19, of the Central City area, and his cousin Arron Joseph Galli, 22, also of Central City, were booked into jail Thursday. Warrants were issued for Arron's brother, Adam Blue Galli, 23, of the east Central City area, and Christopher R. Galli, 17, of Sandy. Both are still at large.
Each has been charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, for the robbery May 5 of Trolley Corners Theatres. Christopher and Adam also have been charged with the robbery April 29 of King's English Book Shop. Dalling said the four cousins also are suspected of robbing the Tool Shed, the Cottonwood Theaters and a Salt Lake home.
Arron Galli also is booked for investigation of murder. Police have indicated that Adam Galli is the "prime suspect" in Riordan's death. No murder charges have been filed; however, detectives were to meet with prosecutors on Monday. Police warn that Adam Galli has skinhead or neo-Nazi links and should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Salt Lake Police Department, 799-3000.