A husband and wife from Ocala were arrested early Wednesday for allegedly stealing three bottles of King Cobra beer from a Circle K store.
Frank Michael Russell, 59, of 7761 NE 21st Ave., was charged with second-degree petit theft (third or subsequent offense) while his wife, 56-year-old Sandy Bobman, was charged with second-degree petit theft (first offense).
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy responded Tuesday night to the Circle K store at 7025 NE Jacksonville Road, where the store manager said a man and woman entered the store at around 10:15 p.m. He said he was familiar with the man and knew his first name was Frank. The man was later identified as Russell, while the woman was later identified as Bobman, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The store manager said Russell and Bobman arrived in what he believes was a silver Toyota Corolla and Bobman entered the store and went to the refrigerators containing alcohol. He said Bobman stood there a for a while before Russell entered the store and joined her at the refrigerators. The manager said he wasn’t sure what Russell and Bobman were doing, although he saw the refrigerator door open and close, the report said.
The manager said Bobman left the store and returned to the vehicle while Russell came to the register carrying a bottle of King Cobra beer. The manager said when he told Russell the cost of the beer, Russell said, “I’ll go see if my wife has the card. If not, I’ll beat her ass.” He said Russell went out the door, got into the vehicle and left with Bobman, according to the report.
The manager said he was suspicious of the whole situation and decided to review security footage from inside the store. The video clearly showed Russell placing three bottles of beer into Bobman’s handbag. The manager said the three bottles of King Cobra beer were worth $7.03 and provided a copy of the receipt, the report said.
A few hours later, the deputy returned to the store to conduct a follow-up and while talking with staff, Russell arrived in the Toyota. The clerk positively identified it was Russell driving the vehicle, which matched the vehicle that the security video showed Russell and Bobman leaving the store in earlier, according to the report.
The deputy followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in front of Russell’s residence. Russell was read his Miranda warning and refused to speak with the deputy about the incident, the report said.
Russell and Bobman were arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail. Bobman was released Friday on $500 bond, while Russell remains held on $5,000 bond. Bobman will appear in Marion County Court on Sept. 2, while Russell’s court date was set for Sept. 8.