OCALA, FL (352today.com) — A former Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been accused of robbing TD Bank on SE 17th Street Saturday morning. She was arrested within minutes of the crime, according to the Ocala Police Department (OPD).
Police say the robbery happened around 9:30 a.m. on May 3, when the suspect, later identified as Christina Gates Thagard, allegedly handed a note to a bank teller stating it was a robbery and that she had a gun. She fled the scene with more than $5,000 in cash before officers arrived.
Within 11 minutes, OPD officers located Thagard driving westbound on SW College Road near the College of Central Florida. She was taken into custody without incident and transported to police headquarters for questioning.
Investigators say they recovered evidence from Thagard’s vehicle, including the stolen money, clothing, a medical glove, and other items believed to be linked to the robbery. Surveillance video and witness statements further supported her identification as the suspect.
Detective Pfiefer established probable cause, and Thagard was charged with robbery with a firearm. She was booked into the Marion County Jail.