A Reddick man is behind bars after being accused of stealing a paraplegic’s wallet and fleeing to an Ocala motel that frequently appears on law enforcement blotters.
The victim, who was parked in the Circle K parking lot at 5185 E Silver Springs Blvd., called Marion County sheriff’s deputies for help and when they arrived, he said he had been waiting for his nephew when the crime occurred.
The victim said a man later identified as 31-year-old Charles Benjamin Proctor had ridden up on his bicycle and asked for money. When the victim refused, Proctor reached in through the driver’s side window and took his wallet from the console, a report says.
The victim said he grabbed Proctor’s arm and told him not to steal his wallet. He said he also rolled up his window in an effort to thwart the crime. But Proctor was successful in taking his wallet and then fled on his bicycle across E Silver Springs Boulevard, the report says.
The victim said he called his nephew, who stays at the Relax Inn, and told him what had happened. He said after he described the man who stole his wallet, his nephew identified him as Proctor.
Deputies then spoke with the nephew, who said he believed Proctor and his sister were staying at the nearby Stage Stop Inn, located at 5131 E Silver Springs Blvd. He said he is familiar with Proctor because he frequents the soup kitchen in Ocala, the report says.
After the victim positively identified Proctor from a photograph, deputies obtained video surveillance of the incident from the Circle K manager. They then searched the area for Proctor but couldn’t locate him, the report says.
Several hours later, the victim called deputies and said he had just seen Proctor in the parking lot of the Marathon gas station at 5245 E Silver Springs Blvd. Deputies quickly responded and came through the back of Stage Stop Inn parking. They spotted Proctor standing near Room 128 and he fled on foot when they approached him, the report says.
Proctor eventually hopped on a bicycle and eluded deputies, but they found a black backpack he had abandoned when the foot chase began. It contained one glass pipe with residue that tested positive for methamphetamine and another metal pipe. They also located a black tank top, which is what the victim said Proctor was wearing when he stole his wallet.
Proctor, who had previous convictions for grand theft and petit theft, eventually was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail. He was charged with unarmed burglary of an occupied conveyance, larceny/petit theft (third or subsequent offense), resisting an officer without violence, possession of methamphetamine and two counts of possession of drug equipment. He was being held on $15,000 bond and is due in court on Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. to answer to the charges.