A heated argument in the parking lot of Sun South Outfitters escalated into a full-blown scuffle when William McCroan, a thin white male with a history of battery charges, decided to take his frustrations out on his fiancée, Robin Gallagher, and a few unlucky shopping carts. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, an alert citizen flagged down deputies near Silver Springs Auto, pointing them to a couple embroiled in a fiery dispute. The officers arrived just in time to witness McCroan shoving Gallagher around like a rag doll, causing visible scratches and bruises.
Deputy Bondank tried to detain McCroan by leaning him against his patrol vehicle and removing his two backpacks, but McCroan wasn’t going quietly. He yelled at Gallagher, tried to break free, and even attempted to turn around and face the deputy. Deputy J. Bloom quickly intervened, using a straight-arm takedown to bring McCroan to the ground, where he was finally subdued and handcuffed.
Gallagher later told deputies that their relationship had been rocky lately, and today’s argument boiled over when McCroan kicked over their belongings, causing her to fall onto the carts. She ended up with a scratch on her left bicep and a bruise near her tailbone. McCroan, post-Miranda, admitted to pushing the carts with his boot and shoving Gallagher, though he later tried to backtrack, claiming he never admitted to pushing her.
The situation didn’t just leave Gallagher bruised—her son, Darek Gallagher, reported that McCroan’s tantrum also destroyed his $20 laptop mouse when the carts went flying. McCroan’s defense? Gallagher “falls over easily.”
Despite his attempts to downplay the situation, McCroan’s criminal history spoke volumes. A quick computer search revealed prior battery convictions, including aggravated battery, in Polk County. Now, McCroan faces new charges of domestic battery, criminal mischief under $100, and resisting arrest without violence. He’s cooling off in the Marion County Jail, with more court dates likely on the horizon.
