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GAINESVILLE ‒ Mark Rochelle Bolen, 46, was arrested on Monday, May 15, and charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, unlawful possession of a debit card and resisting arrest after allegedly stealing a wallet and car keys from a residence while the occupants slept.

A Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the residence, where the victim said he was awakened at about 12:08 a.m. Monday morning and saw an unknown person inside his residence. He said the person left the house through the side door. The resident then noticed that his wallet and car keys were missing. He said all of the other occupants were home at the time.

While the officer was investigating the incident, the victim received a notification that someone had attempted to use his debit card at the nearby Gate Food Post, 506 N.W. 13th Street. The officer went to the store and asked a store clerk who was outside if someone just used a card that was denied. The clerk advised “yes” and pointed to a black male wearing a blue jumpsuit (later identified as the defendant). Bolen allegedly fled, dropped a Florida driver’s license and debit card and then picked them up. He was arrested after he was found hiding in a pile of construction fencing.

A debit card and driver’s license belonging to the victim were reportedly found near Bolen’s hiding place. The officer reviewed surveillance video footage from the store and reported that Bolen had attempted to purchase $80 of gas, two cases of cigarettes for $199.80, and three packs of cigarettes for $29.97 for a total of $309.77.

Bolen has 20 felony convictions, two of which were violent, and eight non-violent misdemeanor convictions. He has served five state prison sentences, with his most recent release in January 2018. He is on pre-trial release status for two felonies after posting bail in Marion County and is also facing a sworn complaint for robbery in Alachua County.

Bolen was remanded to the Alachua County Jail. Judge Walter Green set bail at $30,000.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

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