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Arroyo Grande community leader robs bank

November 19, 2013
Clay Watkins

Clay Watkins

The former president of the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club allegedly robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in Santa Maria on Saturday.

Shortly after 9 a.m., Arthur McClay Watkins, wearing a ski mask and brandishing a handgun, entered the bank and demanded cash.

Watkins , 55, left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash and made it to a parking lot across the street before he was confronted by a police officer. Watkins then pointed the handgun at the officer, dropped the money and took off running.

While the officer was pursuing Watkins, Jose Mendez of Santa Maria grabbed the cash and took off. A witness provided information that led to Mendez’ arrest for grand theft and possession of stolen property.

Officers arrested Watkins on charges of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer.

Web sites maintained by Watkins have been taken down since his arrest. He is a 1982 graduate of UCLA who later earned a masters degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. Watkins is a licensed marriage and family therapist, most recently associated with the Village Counseling Center in Arroyo Grande. Married with two young children, Watkins is a past president of the Rotary Club of Arroyo Grande and has also volunteered with the YMCA.

Local radio host Dave Congalton was among the many people stunned at the news of Watkins’ arrest.

“I’ve known Clay for years through my radio show,” Congalton said. “He always came across as thoughtful and considerate. I remember when he serenaded my wife Charlotte by playing the banjo for her birthday. Not two months ago, he called into my show to offer to pay any fees associated with these visiting monks appearing at farmers’ market. That’s the Clay I know.”


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“Your” “punctuation” “skills” “are” “amazing.”


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“Thank you”; your praise is; “much appreciated.”


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From the story, it sounds like Mr. Watkins may have been making a play for Congalton’s wife.


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For all those who think that “banks have made it too easy to be robbed”:


The procedures and protocol that bank employees follow when being robbed are designed to protect lives of employees and customers and to prevent hostage situations and so on.


As much as it might seem real neat and cool on TV, gun battles and hostage situations at banks are not things one wants to encourage. Better to let the robbers have the money and run off and work on capturing them afterward. It doesn’t always work out that way–many bank robers do end up getting away with it– but much chaos and bloodshed is avoided.


Banks know that bank customers are not real keen about visiting banks where gallons of blood and bone fragments were mopped from the floor and sucked from the carpets 24 hours earlier.


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People don’t talk about it much, but the cleaning bills after an urban gun battle can be horrendous.


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Maybe his health coverage had been cancelled.


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Something is seriously wrong here and I’m sure his family is struggling to find out also. Lets all lighten up a bit.


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You are correct. I am thankful my comment was moderated out (they often are, anyway).


There is definitely something “fishy” here for this guy to just rob a bank. I mean, it does not fit a profile. Then again, we do not know what has been going on in his life so who’s to say.


We all have moments of weakness for whatever reason, let’s hope it was just that.


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Actually r0y, Mr. Watkins very likely DOES “fit a profile” of a modern day bank robber.


Today’s bank robbers are frequently people who are overwhelmed by debt and/or addiction. About half of all bank robbers are white. On average they leave the bank with about $1,400 and hit about four banks before they are caught.


It’s not unusual for bank robbers to be people who “you would never suspect” would do that kind of thing.


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That is so very, very TRUE.


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He should have made friends with Kelly Gearhart, Jay Miller and David Graves! They could have told him how to steal money and get away with it!


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This story is about Clay Watkins, not Congalton……get a life!!!


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Banks have made it so easy. So go in and ask for money and it’s yours. Maybe this is the new healthcare alternative–no website, no giving up your identity, no hassle, no wait.


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“I’ve known Clay for years through my radio show,” Congalton said. “He always came across as thoughtful and considerate. I remember when he serenaded my wife Charlotte by playing the banjo for her birthday. Not two months ago, he called into my show to offer to pay any fees associated with these visiting monks appearing at farmers’ market. That’s the Clay I know.”


No Dave, that’s the Clay you thought you knew. Alas, the dangers of believing everything you think.


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“Alas, the dangers of believing everything you think”


Is this the pot calling the kettle black??? the dangers of believing everything you think.


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What can one say without pointing the finger at yourself. Having nothing to say is best. This is darkness and on Dave’s show he doesn’t even get a prayer.


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remember to think about what you think, cognitive dissonance is real.


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