William Clark : “Target theft suspect threatens employee with gun”

Ocala Man Faces Multiple Felony Charges After Alleged Theft and Gun Incident at Local Target

A 35-year-old man from Ocala is in hot water after he reportedly stole over £170 worth of clothing from a Target store in the area. The situation escalated when the man, identified as William Clark, allegedly pointed a firearm at an employee who confronted him about the theft.

The incident took place on Tuesday, June 4, at the Target store located at 2000 SW College Road, prompting a swift response from the Ocala Police Department. Upon arrival, officers were briefed on the situation, learning that Clark had brandished a gun at a store employee during the confrontation.

The employee recounted the incident to the officers, stating that they had witnessed Clark concealing clothing items worth £178 in a duffel bag. As the employee approached Clark near the store’s exit, Clark reportedly drew a revolver, pointed it at the employee, and uttered, “You don’t run up on someone like that.”

Review of the store’s video surveillance footage corroborated the employee’s version of events, providing crucial evidence in the case.

Following the confrontation, Clark fled the scene in a Chevrolet pickup truck. Officers deduced that another individual must have assisted him in fleeing, given the direction Clark took upon leaving the store.

The pickup truck was eventually located near the intersection of NE 28th Street and NE 16th Avenue, prompting a traffic stop. Clark was found in the driver’s seat, accompanied by a female passenger identified as 39-year-old Shakima Canty.

Upon investigation, an officer spotted a silver revolver under the front passenger seat as Clark and Canty exited the vehicle. Clark was found wearing the same clothing and jewellery as seen on the male suspect in the surveillance footage.

During questioning, Canty admitted to driving to the Target store with Clark in her Chevrolet pickup truck. However, she denied knowledge of the whereabouts of Clark’s duffel bag or how the firearm ended up in the vehicle.

Despite denying driving Clark away from the store, Canty’s claims were refuted by the video surveillance footage from the store.

Clark, too, spoke with officers following his arrest. He denied stealing or possessing a firearm, claiming that he was merely confronted by a store employee before quickly leaving the scene.

Clark is currently detained at the Marion County Jail without bond, facing charges of robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during a felony, petit theft, and driving with a suspended license.

Records indicate that Clark is scheduled to appear in court on firearm-related charges and other offences on separate dates in July and August.

Canty, on the other hand, is being held at the Marion County Jail on a £25,000 bond, charged as an accessory to robbery with a firearm. Her arraignment hearing is set for July 9.