Man says voices told him to rob bank, so he did

A 21-year-old man who said voices in his head told him to get “locked away” accomplished just that when, authorities say, he robbed a Saukville bank last week and was arrested.

Saukville resident Scott E. Ciamarichello, who drove away from the Kohler Credit Union branch on East Green Bay Avenue in his own car after taking more than $1,000 from a teller on Friday, Dec. 12, turned himself in at the urging of his roommate shortly after the robbery, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ozaukee County Circuit Court. 

Ciamarichello is charged with robbery of a financial institution and is being held in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

According to the complaint, Saukville police officers responded to a bank alarm at the credit union at 4:22 p.m. Dec. 12 and were told by employees that a man wearing a black coat, neck covering and knit hat demanded money from a teller, then left.

Officers quickly identified the man as Ciamarichello by looking at surveillance video.

A teller told officers that Ciamarichello approached him and placed a note on the counter that read, “This is a robbery, don’t make this messy. 100s, 50s and 20s. No marked bills. Don’t say a word, act normal,” the complaint states.

The teller said he showed the note to another bank employee, then gave Ciamarichello money from his cash drawer. He said Ciamarichello put the money in a sling bag, said, “Thanks, bud” and walked out of the credit union office, according to the complaint.

Ciamarichello stole $1,065 in marked and unmarked bills, the complaint states.

After Ciamarichello left, an employee locked the doors and saw him drive away in a white, four-door car.

Surveillance video showed the Chevrolet Malibu and its license plate, which officers traced to Ciamarichello.

The robbery was also caught on video and showed Ciamarichello put the note on the counter and the teller press an alarm button under the counter. Officers noted Ciamarichello’s face was visible and he was not wearing gloves, the complaint states.

Shortly after the robbery, officers received a call from Ciamarichello’s roommate, who told them that they were en route to the police station so Ciamarichello could turn himself in.

The roommate said Ciamarichello bluntly told him, “I robbed a bank. I don’t know what to do,” and he convinced Ciamarichello to turn himself in, according to the complaint.

After being arrested, Ciamarichello told officers that about a month ago he began experiencing mental health problems and wanted to kill himself with the gun he owned. He said voices in his head told him to kill himself or get “locked away,” the complaint states.

Ciamarichello said he devised a plan to get arrested and on the day of the robbery felt numb and heard voices in his head telling him to rob a bank, according to the complaint.

He said he told the teller he did not want to hurt anyone, which is why he wasn’t carrying his gun.

Ciamarichello told officers that he intended to gamble with the stolen money but his roommate talked him out of it. The money stolen from the bank was recovered, the complaint states.  

During a bail hearing on Monday, Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Adam Gerol ordered Ciamarichello not to have contact with Kohler Credit Union offices and not to possess dangerous weapons, including guns.

Robbery of a financial institution is punishable by a maximum 25 years in prison and 15 years of extended supervision.