By F. Scott Faulkner
May 22, 2026 – Santa Barbara, CA
Employees at a Santa Barbara golf shop recognized a man Saturday they believed had
stolen a golf club from the business before, prompting them to call the cops as he
attempted to make off with a high-priced 5-iron.
According to Santa Barbara Police Department Cmdr. Charles Katsapis,
SBPD officers arrived at the Loreto Plaza GolfMax store and learned that
Santa Barbara resident Jason Schnell, 33, had entered the store and concealed several items
on his person. When confronted by store personnel, “he fled on foot, pushing through
an employee and a customer who attempted to stop him.”
Store staff had recognized Schnell from earlier incidents captured on store security
video and noticed “he appeared to leave with a limp he had not shown when entering
the store.”
The ensuing investigation and witness statements helped officers to locate Schnell at a
nearby restaurant. They made contact with him and discovered he was in possession of
the allegedly purloined golf club which he had attempted to conceal by shoving it down
his pant leg.
Schnell was taken into custody and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he
was booked on suspicion of second-degree robbery and providing a false name to a
peace officer.
