UPDATED: Inglis man, suspect of July 10, Crystal River bank robbery, arrested at Food Ranch
All photos courtesy of CCSO.
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Details released of July 10, Crystal River armed bank robbery
Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), July 11, 2025
Crystal River, Florida - On Thursday, July 10, 2025, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) launched an investigation into the armed robbery of the Capital City Bank, located at 101 SE U.S. Highway 19 in Crystal River (Citrus County).
Shortly before 9:40 a.m., a white male suspect - later identified as 54 year-old William Burton Clarkson of Inglis, Florida - entered the bank, displayed a handgun, and demanded cash from a teller. After robbing the bank, the suspect fled on foot with approximately $2,000 from the bank. Surveillance video footage and witness accounts described the suspect as wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, boots, and sunglasses, and wearing his long hair in a ponytail.
The Citrus County Sheriff's Office released images of the suspect on social media from the bank's surveillance videos, and received numerous tips via Crime Stoppers, identifying the male suspect as Clarkson, who is also known as "Texas Billy." Detectives were also informed that Clarkson was staying at Scooter Haven Country Club, an RV park located at 19350 SE Butler Road, in Inglis (Levy County), Florida.
Major Crimes Detective Bobby Bang with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office followed up on the tips, and located a truck with a Texas license plate at the Scooter Haven Country Club RV park. With assistance from Crime Intelligence Analyst Lori Cronshaw with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, investigators confirmed Clarkson's identity. A cooperating witness confronted Clarkson, after his photos were released on social media as the suspect in the bank robbery, and facilitated his surrender to deputies at the Food Ranch Supermarket, located at 40 U.S. Highway 19 North in Inglis (Levy County), Florida.
Because Clarkson resides in Levy County, detectives from both Citrus and Levy counties obtained and executed search warrants at Scooter Haven Country Club, recovering evidence tied to the bank robbery.
Further investigation revealed that Clarkson may have attempted to enter GTE Financial, a credit union located at 5700 N. Suncoast Blvd. (US 19) in Crystal River, Florida, shortly before the bank robbery, posing as a utility worker. Surveillance footage from GTE and items found in Clarkson's truck, such as a white hard hat and a reflective vest, supported this lead.
"This case highlights how essential every part of our agency is, from real-time intelligence gathering to on-the-ground investigation," said Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Major Crimes Unit Sergeant Thomas Dowling. "Our team's dedication, combined with the public's quick response to our social media outreach, was key in quickly identifying and apprehending a dangerous suspect."
Clarkson was transported to the Levy County Detention Bureau in Bronson (Levy County), Florida, charged with one count of robbery with a firearm. His bond was set at none.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Citrus County Sheriff's Office at (352) 249-2790 or Crime Stoppers of Citrus County at 1-888-ANY-TIPS.
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Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), July 10, 2025, 5:30 p.m.Shortly before 9:40 a.m., a white male suspect - later identified as 54 year-old William Burton Clarkson of Inglis, Florida - entered the bank, displayed a handgun, and demanded cash from a teller. After robbing the bank, the suspect fled on foot with approximately $2,000 from the bank. Surveillance video footage and witness accounts described the suspect as wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, boots, and sunglasses, and wearing his long hair in a ponytail.
The Citrus County Sheriff's Office released images of the suspect on social media from the bank's surveillance videos, and received numerous tips via Crime Stoppers, identifying the male suspect as Clarkson, who is also known as "Texas Billy." Detectives were also informed that Clarkson was staying at Scooter Haven Country Club, an RV park located at 19350 SE Butler Road, in Inglis (Levy County), Florida.
Major Crimes Detective Bobby Bang with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office followed up on the tips, and located a truck with a Texas license plate at the Scooter Haven Country Club RV park. With assistance from Crime Intelligence Analyst Lori Cronshaw with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, investigators confirmed Clarkson's identity. A cooperating witness confronted Clarkson, after his photos were released on social media as the suspect in the bank robbery, and facilitated his surrender to deputies at the Food Ranch Supermarket, located at 40 U.S. Highway 19 North in Inglis (Levy County), Florida.
Because Clarkson resides in Levy County, detectives from both Citrus and Levy counties obtained and executed search warrants at Scooter Haven Country Club, recovering evidence tied to the bank robbery.
Further investigation revealed that Clarkson may have attempted to enter GTE Financial, a credit union located at 5700 N. Suncoast Blvd. (US 19) in Crystal River, Florida, shortly before the bank robbery, posing as a utility worker. Surveillance footage from GTE and items found in Clarkson's truck, such as a white hard hat and a reflective vest, supported this lead.
"This case highlights how essential every part of our agency is, from real-time intelligence gathering to on-the-ground investigation," said Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Major Crimes Unit Sergeant Thomas Dowling. "Our team's dedication, combined with the public's quick response to our social media outreach, was key in quickly identifying and apprehending a dangerous suspect."
Clarkson was transported to the Levy County Detention Bureau in Bronson (Levy County), Florida, charged with one count of robbery with a firearm. His bond was set at none.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Citrus County Sheriff's Office at (352) 249-2790 or Crime Stoppers of Citrus County at 1-888-ANY-TIPS.
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Crystal River, Florida - Thanks to the swift work of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division and Forensics Unit, along with tips from members of the community, a man was arrested today as the suspect of a bank robbery that occurred on the morning of Thursday, July 10, 2025 at the Capital City Bank, located at 101 SE U.S. Highway 19 in Crystal River.
Members of the community who recognized the suspect, 54 year-old William Burton Clarkson, contacted the agency after they viewed the bank robbery surveillance photos on the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. Within seven hours of the bank robbery being reported, suspect Clarkson had been identified, located and placed under arrest.
More details of this case will be released on Friday, July 11, 2025, and this story will be updated.