Prosecutors have cleared two Ocala police officers who were involved in a shooting that wounded a bank robbery suspect who led them on a high speed chase in May, saying their use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances.
Earlier this month, the two officers who were involved in a shooting that wounded Randall Lee Williford were cleared by the state.
In a memorandum to Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken, an assistant state attorney stated that the “use of deadly force” by Major Greg Martin and Officer Parker Morley was “clearly reasonable, and lawful, under these circumstances.”
On May 8, at around 12:50 p.m., Ocala Police Department officers responded to the TD Bank located at 2437 SE 17th Street #101 in reference to a robbery. The officers were informed that an armed man had entered the bank, demanded money, and left the financial institution with nearly $7,000, according to the arrest report.
In the report, an officer noted that the suspect’s vehicle – a 2011 GMC pickup truck – was spotted traveling eastbound on E Fort King Street, and law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop as the vehicle approached the intersection of SE 36th Avenue.
When the pickup truck stopped behind another vehicle at the intersection, a nearby officer drew their service weapon, pointed it at the female driver of the pickup truck, and ordered the vehicle to stop, according to the report.
However, when the vehicle that was blocking the pickup truck moved out of the way, the pickup truck allegedly proceeded to continue fleeing eastbound on E Fort King Street. The report stated that officers were able to observe a total of three occupants – a female driver and two male passengers – inside the pickup truck.
During the pursuit, the occupants of the pickup truck continued to flee from police on SE Maricamp Road and SE 44th Avenue before their vehicle rolled over into a retention pond in the 4300 block of SE 38th Street. The report said that the accident occurred when the driver of the pickup truck swerved to avoid another vehicle that was stopped in the roadway.
One of the pickup truck’s passengers, identified by police as 37-year-old Randall Lee Williford, allegedly exited the vehicle through a shattered rear window and began to run north through the retention pond. OPD stated that Williford “brandished and pointed a pistol” at two officers who were on-scene, which resulted in shots being fired at Williford.
Those two OPD officers involved in the shooting were later identified as Major Greg Martin and Officer Parker Morley.
Williford sustained a gunshot wound to his right wrist, and his injury was treated at a local hospital.
An officer said in the report that “two large stacks of U.S. currency” were found in the pockets of Williford’s pants. In addition, a note demanding money was allegedly also found in one of his pockets.
The other two occupants of the pickup truck were apprehended by police, and they were identified as 34-year-old Amanda Jean Bishop and 36-year-old Andre Javon Baker. Due to the rollover crash, both suspects were hospitalized as a precaution.
Officers interviewed a bank teller who advised that a male suspect, identified as Williford, had allegedly pulled out a handgun while saying, “Give me all the money.” The teller advised that Williford gave instructions to “stay quiet,” allegedly adding that he was “not afraid” to use the firearm, according to the report.
The teller told police that a box containing around $7,000 – later determined by police to be $6,946 – was handed to Williford. He then allegedly instructed the teller to walk outside the bank with him, threatening that he had “nothing to lose” if she failed to follow instructions.
After the teller begged Williford to “let her go,” Williford allegedly began to run away, and the teller quickly headed back inside the bank.
Williford was placed under arrest and charged with robbery with a firearm, kidnapping with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and tampering with evidence.
Marion County Court records show that Williford is being represented by Attorney Julia Melanie Slaughter. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his case is scheduled to go to trial in December.
The two other suspects in the robbery case, Bishop and Baker, were also arrested and charged with principal to robbery with a firearm. In addition, Bishop was charged with fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer and Bishop was charged with possession of synthetic cannabinoid.
Court records show that prosecutors dropped the robbery charge against Bishop and Baker, though they were adjudicated guilty of the separate fleeing and drug possession charges. They are both currently serving three-year prison sentences.
OPD will conduct its own internal investigation into the officer-involved shooting to see if any polices were violated.