Man claiming to have a bomb in Watsonville bank gets talked into filling out loan paperwork, then arrested

By Jennifer Squires - Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 09/09/2010 04:33:42 PM PDT

WATSONVILLE - A man was arrested Wednesday afternoon after he walked into a Watsonville bank, said he had a bomb in his backpack and demanded $2,000 so he could pay his friend's rent, police reported.

But when Mark Smith, 59, allegedly tried to rob the bank, the bank manager suggested that what he actually needed to do was take out a loan, and she had him sit down while she said she was going to retrieve the loan paperwork. Instead, she called 911, according to Assistant District Attorney Dave Genochio.

"Quick-thinking staff kept the man calm and distracted him with some paperwork until we arrived," Lt. Darren Thompson said.

Officers responded to the bank, on the 700 block of East Lake Avenue, around 4:30 p.m.

Police arrested Smith, a Watsonville resident, on suspicion of attempted robbery, making criminal threats and making a false bomb report, according to Thompson.

Smith didn't have a bomb or any other weapons and no injuries were reported, Thompson added.

From: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_16033532