Man arrested for attempted bank robbery

David Schumack, a 36-year-old Del Norte County resident suspected of trying to rob the Coast Central Credit Union in Crescent City on Sept. 24, was apprehended two days later within walking distance of the bank.

“We thought we might be able to do this because he tends to resurface,” said Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin.

According to Griffin, Schumack has had several run-ins with the law, including an altercation that led to a taser incident in early September. Griffin added that the department has logged over 102 bookings for Schumack, but added the bookings include simultaneous charges that don’t reflect actual days he has been arrested.

Schumack’s encounters with law enforcement increased this month, however.

On Sept. 4, police observed Schumack trespassing and entering into an outbuilding of Renner Petroleum on D Street. Griffin said Schumack resisted arrest and was tasered twice in order to take him into custody. He was released on bail 10 days later.

A call for comment to Renner Petroleum about the incident wasn’t declined, but a spokesperson for the company said they didn’t have information to provide because it happened on a Sunday while they were closed.

On Sept. 22, police found Schumack near the cell towers behind the Del Norte County Fairgrounds and conducted a search.

“He had notes on him, written under an alias,” Griffin said. “It was anti-government type stuff. Ramblings.”

Then on Sept. 24, Schumack allegedly walked into the Coast Central Credit Union at 5:23 pm, seven minutes before closing time, and grabbed a bank brochure. According to Griffin, Schumack scribbled a note onto the brochure, used the same alias as that found on notes police discovered at the fairgrounds, and handed it to a teller.

Officers were called to the bank within minutes before Schumack was able to receive any money, but Schumack heard the police approaching and was able to run out of the bank and into the woods.

On. Sept. 26 at 1:43 pm, Schumack was spotted by off-duty Sergeant Justin Gill near McDonald’s at M Street. Gill called dispatch and kept Schumack in sight until backup arrived, at which point Schumack ran into the Safeway grocery store a few yards away. A citizen shopping in the store helped by grabbing Schumack by the arm, and he was arrested without further incident.

According to Griffin, Schumack was booked into the Del Norte County Jail for 664/211 PC, attempted robbery, as well as 148 PC, resisting arrest. A call to county jail confirmed that he is being held on $100,000 bail.

Griffin said Schumack has been charged under state crimes only, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be contacted and will have the option to file federal charges.

“Sometimes the FBI pursues charges, and sometimes they don’t,” Griffin said. “But, he could get up to nine years if he’s convicted at the state level. So, that’s probably more what he’s looking at.”