A 31-year-old Reddick man is behind bars after voices in his head allegedly instructed him to rob a Dollar General store in Ocala.
On Monday, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Dollar General store located at 13200 W Highway 326 in Ocala after an employee called 911 to report a robbery. Upon arrival, deputies established a perimeter and located a man matching the description of the suspect less than a mile from the store on Highway 326, according to the arrest report.
The man was identified in the report as Matthew Mark Pringle.
An MCSO corporal arrived on scene to assume the role of lead investigator. The report stated that the corporal interviewed witnesses at the scene and reviewed video surveillance footage from the store.
A store employee told the corporal that they recognized Pringle from a similar robbery that had occurred at the store the day before, and the employee immediately called 911. According to the report, the employee was then “jumped” by Pringle, and he snatched the phone from the employee’s hand.
After being attacked by Pringle, the employee complied by opening the cash register, and Pringle took an “unknown amount of U.S. currency” from the cash till. Pringle then fled from the store on foot, heading westbound on Highway 326, according to the report.
The corporal noted in the report that two additional witnesses were interviewed and provided similar details of the robbery incident. In addition, the corporal noted that Pringle was observed on the store’s video surveillance footage, and his face was “plainly visible.”
Shortly after the corporal reviewed the store’s surveillance footage, which showed the attack and robbery at the counter, the corporal made contact with Pringle and noted that he was “wearing the same clothing from the video.” Pringle was placed under arrest and transported to the MCSO Major Crimes Unit for an interview.
After being read his Miranda rights, Pringle admitted to robbing the Dollar General store, and he further admitted to a robbery that had occurred the previous day (November 12) at the same location. He claimed that he was “hearing voices” that were “directing him to conduct the robberies,” according to the report.
The corporal noted that Pringle did not elaborate on his motivations for the robberies, and he refused to provide any further details during the post-Miranda interview.
Pringle was transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held without bond. He is facing felony charges for unarmed robbery and hindering, delaying, or preventing the communication to a law enforcement officer of information relating to the commission of an offense.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.