Lake Wales, Florida Sept 21 2013 – On September 20, 2013 at approximately 7:57am Polk County Sheriff’s Office School Crossing Guard Gail Mucha was hard at work with her partner escorting elementary school children across SR60 at the intersection of 1st St in Lake Wales. Prior to beginning her shift she parked her vehicle in a parking lot near the intersection at which she performs her duties. Mucha told police while she was performing her duties she looked toward her vehicle and noticed the door was open and could see feet hanging below the door. She began to walk toward her vehicle and noticed a man rummaging through her property inside the vehicle. Mucha verbally confronted the man and began using her cell phone to contact 911. The man saw she was calling 911 and approached Mucha, who is 57 years old, demanding the phone. A brief struggle took place between the man and Mucha over the cell phone, but the man was able to forcibly take the phone from Mucha. The man then threw the phone breaking it and fled the scene.

After the struggle, Mucha was able to contact 911 by using another crossing guard’s phone. Mucha was able to give a good description of the suspect and the direction he fled. Lake Wales Police Officers established a perimeter and began searching for the suspect. Officers located a person matching the description in the parking lot of Citizen’s Bank at the intersection of SR60 and 3rd St. The suspect was identified by Mucha as the man who burglarized her vehicle and robbed her of her phone. The suspect was placed under arrest and identified as Quindale L. Clark, a 21 year old Lake Wales resident. At the scene, Clark admitted to the incident and was also found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana. Clark was transported to Lake Wales Police Department for further questioning. Mucha did not receive any injuries as a result of the struggle and the suspect was unable take anything from her vehicle.

In addition to this incident Clark was interviewed about the June 17, 2013 burglary to Holmes Family Practice located at 455 Emerald Ave. On September 19, 2013 Clark became a suspect in this case when DNA evidence returned from FDLE placing him in the crime scene. During the interview Clark admitted he is who committed the burglary.

Clark, who is no stranger to criminal activity, was booked into the Polk County Jail on the following charges: 2 counts of Burglary, Robbery, Tampering with a Witness/Victim, and Possession of Marijuana Less than 20 Grams.

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