Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Cindy Lynette Clark, 42, and Teresa Ann Moore, 27, were taken into custody yesterday after reportedly escaping the scene of a battery and robbery and concealing themselves inside a house to evade law enforcement.

Around 11:53 p.m. on September 5, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived at the Eastside Food Store (3423 SE Hawthorne Road) after a victim reported spotting a “wanted person” in a gray Dodge Ram pickup at the location.

The victim disclosed that an argument with Clark escalated because Clark persistently asked for money, which led to Clark assaulting her by repeatedly punching her and snatching her purse, taking approximately $80. Clark reportedly also grabbed the victim’s wig, tearing parts of it. The victim presented bloody scratches and showed deputies several detached pieces of her wig. The incident was allegedly recorded on the store’s video surveillance.

A deputy witnessed a gray Dodge Ram accelerating away from the scene and tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the truck accelerated further and continued to flee southward on SE 35th Street. The deputy halted the chase in compliance with department policy but located the vehicle shortly after, parked near Clark’s residence.

The deputy reported hearing a door close as he got out of his vehicle and gave PA announcements, but Clark did not emerge from the home.

While deputies were surrounding Clark’s home, they reportedly heard her threaten to shoot them.

Moore was said to be accompanying Clark in the truck during the escape; a deputy later observed her at the back doorway of Clark’s residence, but she retreated inside. Moore eventually exited the house and was apprehended at around 12:40 a.m.

Moore reportedly informed deputies that Clark was not present inside the house; she also expressed uncertainty about whether Clark had entered the residence and, after being read her rights, later admitted having seen Clark inside.

Post Miranda, Moore reportedly said that she saw Clark punch the victim and saw her snatch the victim’s purse from her hands. She said Clark had been driving the pickup truck. Moore reportedly said the incident began when she tried to remove the victim from her car and Clark came over to “help” her, but she never asked Clark to help her.

After several hours, deputies broke down the perimeter but continued to surveil the house.

Clark was seen leaving the home by the back door at about 4 a.m. and was arrested after a traffic stop in the 2700 block of SE Hawthorne Road. While being transported to jail, Clark reportedly said to a deputy, “You gonna get shot in the back of the head one day, I swear to God.”

Clark has been charged with robbery by sudden snatching, fleeing law enforcement with lights and sirens active, battery with a prior battery conviction, two counts of making a threat to harm a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence. She was also booked on a warrant for violating probation on a 2020 case that included charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and DUI. Judge George Wright ordered her held without bail until the probation violation case is resolved, and he also ordered her held without bail on the new charges, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold her without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Moore has been charged with accessory after the fact to a felony and resisting an officer without violence. She has no criminal convictions but is in a pre-trial diversion program that would defer prosecution on a drug possession charge for a year from July 30, 2025, if she did not violate the terms of the agreement; new charges would violate the terms of the agreement. Judge Wright set bail at $7,500.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.