Officials link the 55-year-old to three holdups over two days.
OCALA, Fla. — A 55-year-old man accused of robbing three Marion County businesses at gunpoint crashed into a power pole while fleeing a traffic stop Wednesday and was taken into custody, authorities said. The collision happened near NW 9th Avenue and NW 6th Street after a brief pursuit.
Investigators say the same suspect pointed a firearm at employees at a Family Dollar, a Shoe Station and a Murphy Oil gas station between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning. Detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Ocala Police Department worked a joint case, identifying the suspect’s vehicle and locating it Wednesday before attempting a stop. The man, identified as Clinton Deon Scarlett, was booked into the Marion County Jail and held without bond as of Friday. The case is at an early stage, with detectives processing evidence and gathering statements while jail records show no court date set.
According to investigators, the first robbery occurred around 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Family Dollar in Marion Oaks, where the robber “held the cashier at gunpoint” and demanded money, the sheriff’s office said. About 7:15 p.m. the same day, a man with a gun targeted the Shoe Station on SW 24th Avenue and again demanded cash. On Wednesday around 9:20 a.m., a similar holdup was reported at the Murphy Oil station on SW Highway 200. A witness provided a description of the getaway vehicle after the gas station robbery, giving detectives a lead they used to track a suspect.
Later Wednesday, deputies and officers spotted the vehicle headed west on NW 8th Street toward NW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and attempted a traffic stop, authorities said. The driver fled. During the short pursuit, the car collided with a power pole at NW 9th Avenue and NW 6th Street. Officers and deputies moved in and arrested the driver without further incident. No injuries were immediately reported. An interior search of the vehicle turned up cocaine and K2, a synthetic cannabinoid, according to law enforcement. Officials said Scarlett is a convicted felon and faces multiple weapons counts in addition to robbery and fleeing charges.
Authorities listed the preliminary charges as three counts of robbery with a firearm; four counts of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon; aggravated fleeing with property damage; possession of cocaine; possession of a synthetic cannabinoid; and driving while license suspended or revoked. Detectives said they are reviewing surveillance images, store reports and witness statements to confirm whether the same gun was displayed in each holdup and to determine how much cash was taken. Officials did not immediately release totals from the registers or specify the amount of damage at the crash site, and it was not clear if any power outages occurred.
The string of robberies unfolded within roughly 24 hours in busy retail areas of southwest Ocala and Marion Oaks. The Family Dollar is listed at 3245 SW 142nd Lane in Marion Oaks. The Shoe Station is on the 2800 block of SW 24th Avenue near other big-box stores and restaurants. The Murphy Oil station sits at 9558 SW Highway 200 beside a Walmart Supercenter. Those locations offer high traffic and frequent cash transactions, a pattern detectives often examine when searching for suspects in serial holdups. Investigators said a witness description of the car leaving the Murphy Oil scene helped connect the three incidents and focus the search.
In announcing the arrest, law enforcement emphasized the joint nature of the work. The sheriff’s office credited Ocala Police with assisting in the stop and arrest, and Ocala Police acknowledged the partnership in a social media post. Officials said the crash scene was secured quickly after the impact, allowing responders to remove the driver and check for hazards. The agencies did not report shots fired during the pursuit. While the sheriff’s office described Scarlett as taken into custody “without further incident,” they noted that additional interviews and forensic checks are ongoing.
Jail records showed Scarlett remained held without bond pending his first appearance and formal filing of charges. Prosecutors will review investigative reports, surveillance video and physical evidence before making charging decisions. If filed, the robbery counts would move to circuit court, with an arraignment to follow. Detectives said they expect to finish collecting statements from store employees and witnesses in the coming days and to coordinate with merchants to document losses and damages. A hearing date had not been set as of Friday.
On Thursday and Friday, customers moved through the same shopping corridors where the robberies were reported. Drivers passed the utility pole at NW 9th Avenue and NW 6th Street where the fleeing car hit and stopped. Neighbors said patrols were visible after the crash. Clerks at nearby shops said they were aware of the arrest but deferred questions to managers. “We’re glad nobody else was hurt,” one employee said, declining to give a name because they were not authorized to speak for the store.
As of Sunday, authorities said Scarlett remained in the Marion County Jail while detectives continued standard follow-up work and prosecutors reviewed the case. Officials said any additional updates, including court scheduling, would be released when available.
Author note: Last updated February 1, 2026.