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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocklawaha man accused of stealing pickup truck with child in back seat

A 39-year-old Ocklawaha man was arrested after he was accused of stealing a pickup truck with a child in the back seat.

On Thursday, July 28, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the Circle K gas station located at 5182 E Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala in reference to a stolen vehicle.

Upon arrival, the female reportee who had contacted law enforcement advised that the male suspect, later identified as Robert James Galloway, was walking eastbound on Silver Springs Boulevard.

Robert James Galloway
Robert James Galloway

The reportee stated that Galloway was wearing black shorts and no shirt. She advised that her boyfriend, the male victim, was following Galloway in a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Galloway was located by MCSO near the 5800 block of E Silver Springs Boulevard, and he was detained and placed into the deputy’s patrol vehicle.

A second MCSO deputy made contact with the male victim who advised that he had stopped at the gas station to refuel his pickup truck and grab some food. He told the deputy that he left the vehicle running for a minor child who was resting in the truck, and the child did not want to go inside the convenience store.

The victim stated that he entered the convenience store, paid for gas, and he noticed that his truck was missing when stepped back outside. A short time later, he stated that his truck returned to the gas station, Galloway stepped out of the driver’s side door, and a verbal altercation between the two of them ensued.

While the reportee contacted law enforcement, the victim stated that Galloway began to walk eastbound on Silver Springs Boulevard, and he followed Galloway while waiting for law enforcement to arrive on scene.

An MCSO deputy attempted to speak with Galloway, but he refused to discuss the incident with law enforcement.

The deputy briefly spoke with the juvenile victim who advised that he was sitting in the back seat when Galloway entered the truck. The juvenile victim stated that Galloway saw him and drove for approximately half of a mile before turning the truck around and returning to the gas station.

A manager at the gas station showed the deputy surveillance footage of the incident. When the victim and reportee entered the convenience store, the deputy observed Galloway enter the victim’s pickup truck and drive away from the gas station.

The MCSO report indicated that the victim’s pickup truck was observed returning to the gas station approximately one minute later. The deputy observed the verbal altercation between Galloway and the victim, and Galloway was seen leaving the area on foot shortly afterward.

Galloway was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $32,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for grand theft of a motor vehicle and kidnapping.

A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, August 30 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.