Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrest in Destin Bank Robbery

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Destin, Fla. – A Lawyer has been arrested for Bank Robbery in Okaloosa County.

56-year-old Charles Edward Gallagher, who owns and operates Gallagher Law Firm in Destin, FL has been arrested by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and charged with Bank Robbery.

On Wednesday, July 3, at approximately 4:50 pm, a white male walked into Truist Bank located at 34901 Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin and approached a bank teller.

While at the counter, the male first asked the teller about the bank’s holiday hors and then passed a handwritten note. The note had the words no dye packs and give me your cash written on it.

According to the arrest report, the bank teller, who intentionally activated the silent alarm, handed the person the money. As the teller was handing him the money, he said that’s fine and calmly exited the bank with approximately $509.00 in cash.

According to bank security footage, the bank robber was wearing a dark blue and pink floral print button up shirt with a collar, faded worn blue jeans, dark colored flip flips and had a royal blue Nike sun visor on his head. The subject was also wearing a light blue surgical mask and eyes glasses.

While interviewing witnesses at the bank, one of the tellers told law enforcement they recognized the subject because he came to the bank approximately a week or two ago carrying a hard style briefcase. The witness stated the subject stood in the corner for approximately thirty to sixty seconds before exiting the bank without making a transaction.

The witness later positively identified the subject as 56-year-old Charles Edward Gallagher through a photographic lineup.

During the initial investigation of the incident, law enforcement observed a black four-door car with no license plate and no visible insignia backed into a parking space at a business next door to the bank. A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle. During the execution of the warrant, it was revealed the vehicle was a 2017 black Maserati registered to Gallagher. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement found a plastic bag containing cash, a light blue surgical mask, clear lens glasses and a hard style briefcase.

During a post Miranda interview, Gallagher denied having any involvement with the bank robbery.

First Appearance paperwork lists Gallagher as being an attorney.

Court records show Charles E Gallagher and the Gallagher Law Firm as defendants in two separate civil court cases. The first case is a suit in the amount of more than $15,000 but less than $50,000 and the second case is in the amount of more than $50,000 but less than $75,000.

At this time, Gallagher is in custody of the Okaloosa County Jail with bond denied. Court records indicate he will later be released on bond in the amount of $15,000.00 with certain pretrial release conditions.

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