Ocala woman, who’s a former Florida deputy, accused of robbing bank. She was arrested minutes later
Christina Gates Thagard, 40, arrested in Marion County
OCALA, Fla. – An Ocala woman who used to be a Marion County sheriff’s deputy was arrested Saturday during a traffic stop on allegations of robbing a bank just minutes earlier, according to police.
Christina Gates Thagard, 40, faces a charge of robbery with a firearm, the Ocala Police Department said in a news release.
[Watch video below to see police make arrest]
Florida woman accused of robbing bank arrested within minutes, police say
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Thagard was previously employed by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy, the agency confirmed Monday morning. She was last employed by MCSO in April 2016, officials said.
Around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the TD Bank along SE 17th Street after a suspect — who was seen on surveillance video wearing a hoodie, sunglasses, a medical mask and a glove on only one hand — passed a note to a teller demanding at least $50,000 in “big bills.” The assailant also stated, ”I have a gun and will shoot if any alarms or dye packs are inclosed (sic),” investigators said.
The suspect left the bank with about $5,000 and was gone by the time officers arrived to the bank, according to police.
Within 11 minutes, officers located the suspect — identified as Thagard — driving west on SW College Road, according to the release.
See the full dashcam video below:
Former Marion County deputy arrested, accused of bank robbery
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Dashcam video shared by the police department showed Thagard’s arrest, after which she was taken to police headquarters for questioning and, later, to the Marion County Jail, the release states.
A purse with $5,015, a medical mask and a latex glove were among the items found during a search of the vehicle that Thagard was driving, police said.
Police said they have not yet located a firearm.
Former sheriff’s deputy accused of stealing thousands from Florida bank
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MARION COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — Ocala Police arrested a woman for robbing a bank in Ocala on Saturday.
OPD responded to a call at TD Bank on SE 17th St., where the suspect allegedly fled the scene with over $5,000 before officers arrived.
A witness told police that the suspect had handed a note to the bank teller stating this was a robbery and that she was armed with a gun.
Per the arrest report she was wearing an orange medical mask and a black hoodie with the Jack Skellington character on the front.
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Within 11 minutes, officers were able to locate Christina Gates Thagard, 40, driving westbound on SW College Road, near the College of Central Florida.
Thagard was then taken into custody and questioned at police headquarters.
Evidence tied to the robbery, including the stolen money, clothing, a medical glove, and other items, was allegedly found in her vehicle, OPD says.
Surveillance footage and witness descriptions confirmed Thagard’s involvement in the incident.
She has been charged with robbery with a firearm and transported to Marion County Jail.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirms that Thagard was previously employed by MCSO as a deputy, but not at the time of this incident.
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Former Marion County Deputy arrested for armed bank robbery: ‘Why would you?’
Default Mono Sans Mono Serif Sans Serif Comic Fancy Small CapsDefault X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-LargeDefault Outline Dark Outline Light Outline Dark Bold Outline Light Bold Shadow Dark Shadow Light Shadow Dark Bold Shadow Light BoldDefault Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Default Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%A former Marion County deputy is now behind bars after allegedly robbing a bank on Saturday morning.
By Alyssa Perry
OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) – A former Marion County deputy is now behind bars after allegedly robbing a bank on Saturday morning. Police report that 40-year-old Christina Thagard entered a TD Bank, handed a threatening note to an employee, and walked away with more than $5,000.
On September 15, 2003, Thagard was hired as a deputy, later resigning on April 19, 2016, as a Corporal. Her personal file notes several issues, including two letters of reprimand for failure to submit timesheets, tardiness to meetings, and neglecting to report vehicle damage.
Additional observation reports indicate repeated failures to attend meetings, neglecting case follow-ups, and leaving a firearm dirty during inspections.
Thagard also faced disciplinary actions, including notices for failing to arrest suspects, driving over 100 mph without an emergency, and neglecting to submit evidence. Furthermore, MSCO records show she had been involved in an avoidable accident and had multiple suspensions for failing to make a DUI arrest and making a personal phone call lasting 184 minutes while on duty.
Complaints against her included insubordination, neglect of duty, and improperly using a vehicle during a driving suspension period. After being notified of ongoing investigations in April of 2016, Thagard chose to resign from her position.
Ocala residents say they are shocked and in disbelief at the former officer’s actions.
“Who can rob a bank? You can’t do things like that,” said Susan Matthews, a Marion County resident. “It’s crazy, like disbelief. Why would you?”
Many are left questioning what could have motivated Thagard to commit such a crime.
Rey Lopez, another local resident, added, “It’s kind of scary that a former cop would do that. It’s shocking, but it’s the truth.”
Although Thagard has denied the allegations, police uncovered evidence in her vehicle, including cash, clothing, and items that matched the description of the suspect.
“In this day and age, I thought it was dumb to rob a bank on a Saturday at 11 in the morning,” Lopez added. “As I was driving by, I thought, ‘Somebody must have tried to rob the bank.’”
Matthews recounted her surprise when she attempted to visit the bank, only to find it closed.
“We came here Saturday to add a person to our account and saw it was closed. That was odd. When we got home, we saw on Facebook that it had been robbed, and it was a former Marion County deputy,” she said.
Thagard is currently being held at the Marion County Jail without bond and faces a charge of armed robbery as the investigation remains ongoing.
