Former Sheriff’s Aide Arrested for Armed Bank Robbery

On Saturday morning, a former aide from a Florida sheriff’s office was apprehended and faced charges related to armed bank robbery. Reports indicate that the incident unfolded at TD Bank on Southeast 17th Avenue around 9:30 a.m.

According to police, the suspect, identified as Christina Gates Thagard, entered the bank and handed a note to the teller declaring, “This is a robbery. I have a gun and will shoot if I need to.” She demanded at least $50,000 in large bills and instructed the teller to delay contacting law enforcement for two minutes.

The thief managed to escape with over $5,000 before police arrived. Quick on their feet, officers soon identified Thagard and spotted her traveling west on Southwest College Road, not far from the University of Central Florida.

Body camera footage shows officers directing her out of her vehicle, where she appeared bewildered, exclaiming, “Oh my god! What’s going on?”

Thagard was taken into custody, and during the investigation, items connected to the robbery were found in her car, including clothing, medical gloves, and the stolen money. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts corroborated her involvement in the crime.

At first, Thagard denied any participation, suggesting that two acquaintances had borrowed her car and might have committed the robbery without her knowledge. However, investigators noted distinct physical resemblances between her and the individual seen in the surveillance footage.

After establishing probable cause, she was charged with robbery involving a firearm and transported to the Marion County Jail. As of now, police have not located any weapon related to the crime.

Interestingly, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office informed that 40-year-old Thagard had a history with them, having been actively recruited in April 2016.