McKinleyville robbery suspect caught just 13 minutes later
PHOTO: Andrew John Schwartz (Humboldt County Sheriff)
McKINLEYVILLE // A robbery suspect was arrested just minutes after the crime when police caught him leaving the location he initially fled to.
Just after 1:15 PM on January 26th, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies were alerted to a robbery in progress at Mill Creek Cinema. A lone suspect — later identifeid as 31-year-old Andrew John Schwartz — had walked in and handed an employee a note demanding money and claiming he was armed.
Schwartz then left, heading eastbound on School Road and eventually ducking into Roy’s Food Place.
Responding deputies spotted Schwartz as he left Ray’s Food Place, carrying items from the store. The deputy tried to make contact and Schwartz fled again, stopping only to try and get into a bystander’s van at a nearby gas station. When that didn’t work, he continued on foot.
Schwartz was quickly arrested and turned out not to be armed. He has since been booked for robbery, shoplifting, obstructing/resisting a peace officer, and violation of probation. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the total amount of time between the initial report and Schwartz’s arrest was just 13 minutes.
