Convenience store robbery suspect charged

(Mankato, MN) – A man suspected of robbing a Mankato convenience store has been formally charged.

Daniel David Schultz, 24, of Eagle Lake, faces felony charges of aggravated robbery and simple robbery.

Schulz is accused of robbing the Casey’s General Store on North Riverfront Drive Friday night.  A criminal complaint filed in Blue Earth County Court says he walked into the gas station around 7:30 p.m. and wandered around the aisles before approaching the clerk to demand money.  The clerk believed Schultz had a gun and gave him approximately $200 from the register, according to the complaint.

Two women contacted police after a surveillance photo of the robber was released.  The complaint says both women were “100 percent positive” the robber was Schultz.

The women said they had given Schultz a ride to “meet someone” around 7 p.m. the night of the robbery.  Court documents say Schultz instructed the women to drop him off at  Tourtellotte Park, and turn off the car lights while they waited for him.  Schultz walked in the direction of Casey’s, and returned about 20 minutes later with a black scarf around his neck, according to the witness accounts.

One of the women told police she believed Schultz was meeting someone to buy drugs and believed he was on methamphetamine.

Schultz told police he was playing video games with another man and never left the house Friday.  Investigators spoke to the man, who said he hadn’t played video games with Schultz, and that Schultz had left around the home around 7 p.m.

Police say Schultz has two prior convictions in Blue Earth County for second-degree assault.