On Friday, February 5, 1999 at 5:56 P.M., Gary James Palmer, (DOB: 12/10/52) robbed the Union Bank of California located at 716 Santa Cruz Avenue. Inside Union Bank, Palmer advised the teller he was committing a robbery and demanded large bills. The teller cooperated with Palmer by providing some cash that included an exploding dye pack. Palmer did not display a weapon during the robbery. As Palmer exited onto Santa Cruz Avenue the red dye pack exploded.

The next day, Palmer was arrested while driving a stolen car in San Francisco. Also in the car was a significant amount of cash that was red-stained. San Francisco Police contacted the F.B.I. who linked Palmer with the Union Bank robbery. The F.B.I. worked with Menlo Park Detective Ed Estrada who was able to positively link Palmer with the Menlo Park bank robbery. Palmer had been released in December 1998 from prison where he had been serving time for previous bank robberies.

On May 3, 2000, Palmer was convicted of the robbery and was sentenced to 25 years to life. He had been prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Mary Allhiser of the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

If you have any questions regarding this case, please call Detective Edward Estrada at 650.858.3307. A photograph of Palmer is available to the media.