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Police Recover Club LootFUNERALS SET FOR TWO SLAIN RENO OFFICERS(Continued from Page One)fhomassen was serving a term Jor armea robbery and Blake was under sentence for automobile theft, authorities at Monroe reportedThe three arrived in Reno1 Thursday night, driving a late-model Buick sedan reported stolen ( from Tacoma the same day. They registered at the Carlton Hotel under assumed names, and indicated that they planned to stay b'TC two days.Loot Toallrd $3,400Friday afternoon, the U S 40 Tavern and Carlie’s Cocktail Lounge were held up by two armed men, and a net loot of some $3,400 was obtained Thomassen and Blackwell are believed to have committed the robberies and police said Blake lias admitted driv* ir.g th'* getaway car.Acting on a tip, fcur Reno po-hre officers went to the Carlton about midnight Friday. With Capt Geach and Sgt Glass were Detective Sgts Daryl Read and Gene Cowan Thomassen opened tne door 1o the room, holding a .38 caliber pistol. Cowan and Read disarmed Thnmassen after a brief struggle while the other two officers went to the bed where Blackwell was lying. As. Capt. Geach threw xhe bedclothes from Blackwell, the youth opened fire with a .38 caliber super special automatic Hit several times. Sgt Glass died instantly Capt Geach succumbed in an ambulance on the wav tc t£e hospital.Blackwell was shot in the chest and shoulder as Sgt. Cowan fired in return The wrounded youth threw his gun to the floor as the single bullet struck mm.Blake was taken into custody later in the evening. He was away from the hotel room at the time of the shooting.Stuffed With Bills Chief Phillips said that some of the stolen money was recovered in possession of the three, and a brand new wallet stuffed with bills was also found in a pillowcase at the hotel room.Capt Grach, 56. was one of the local department's most respected officers and had served here since July, 1S35. Joining the force as a patrolman, he was later promoted to detective sergeant. When the posiLon of night captain was created last Aprit, he was appointed to fill the job.A native of Butte, Mont., he lived in Nevada many years. A former railroad engineer, he was at one time employed on the To-nopah Gold field railroad. During his residence in Goldfield he was active politically, and served in the state legislature from Esmeralda county in 1S27 and 1928 Later he became a member of the Nevada State Police, and before joining the Reno police department operated a private patrol sendee here.Capt, Geach is survived by his widow. Mrs. Olive Geach. of Reno, and four children. Mrs. Margaret Ortiz, Mrs. Geraldine Hoock and Joseph LcRoy Geach, Jr., of Reno, and Floyd Bareham of Palo Alto, f alif. He was a member of the Nevada Peace Officers' Association. Funeral services will take olace Tuesday at 1 p. m. at the Ross-Burke Co, chapel. Interment wifi be in Mt. View cemetery.Sgt. Gl*ss, 36-year-old native of New York City, came to Reno as manager of the shoe department of the National Dollar Store. In October of 1942 he joined the Reno police department as patrolman, enlisting in the navy the following May. He received ms discharge in November. 1945. and rejoined the department. February 10 of this year, he was promoted to detective sergeant.He is survived b his wife Mrs. Annette Glas-. of Reno. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 3 p. m. at the Ross-Burke Co. chapel.SCENE OF THE SHOOTINGof two Reno police officers was in a suite at the Carlton Hotel. The main room is shown here. In the left foreground a dark stain of blood marks the spot where one of the mortally wounded officers fell. The actual shooting took place in a room adjoining this one on the left. (Journal photo)James Blake 21, of San Francisco, being held as* a suspect in two armed robberies here Friday. Police say he assisted in the holdups, but was nat in a hotel room when his two buddies vveie captured after one of them had shot and killed two Reno police officers.(Journal chutr**
Newspaper Details
Nevada State Journal
Reno, Nevada, US
Sun, Nov 09, 1947
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Justin M.
NA, 02 Dec 2022
Other Publications Near Reno, Nevada
Nevada State Journal
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