BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA) – Clemente Gandy appeared stoic, silent and stunned. Gandy stared straight down at his lap, as deputies pushed him in a wheelchair, when he arrived in Bartow for booking Tuesday around 9 p.m.
News Channel 8 cameras were rolling as we asked him, “Why did you rob those gas stations? Do you have any apologies to anyone?”
Gandy didn’t have a single answer. His demeanor was very different, compared to his alleged bold behavior recently. He’s played the role of tough guy while terrorizing two counties with a gun in hand on a mission for money, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Surveillance video shows the robberies. Deputies say Gandy carried out a reign of terror in Polk and Osceola counties. Sheriff Judd called him “dangerous,” and now Polk deputies call him an inmate.
Curtis Bean was a customer at one location Gandy allegedly robbed. “Nothing doesn’t matter, but my life and me getting back home to my family,” he told News Channel 8.
In the end, deputies said Gandy terrorized seven stores in eight days. His face was seen all over surveillance video at each one.
Clerks and customers alike were terrified, never knowing when this guy would strike next. As it turns out, an alleged Friday robbery proved to be the final night for this accused gunman. News Channel 8 was there as a gas station became a crime scene. Cops caught up with Gandy after he crashed his truck, allegedly running from them. And, after a short stay in an Osceola hospital, Gandy ended up back in Polk County behind bars. He will have his first court appearance Wednesday morning.