PALM COAST, FL – On Tuesday, March 12, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office apprehended a suspect wanted in connection to the violent robbery of a jewelry store in Houston, TX.
Just before 6 p.m., deputies responded to the area of Palm Coast Parkway and I-95 after technology from the Real Time Crime Center indicated the Maryland tag on a Black Chevrolet Tahoe came back tied to suspects believed to be involved in a violent armed robbery in Houston, Texas three days ago. In the heist, robbers took jewelry and cash valued at over $1 million and were believed to be armed and dangerous.
Deputies located a vehicle matching the description in a parking lot off Kings Way in Palm Coast, but the tag was obstructed by a cover. After two males loaded groceries into the vehicle it left the parking lot running the stop sign.
Deputies followed the vehicle for several turns while back-up was responding and then conducted a high-risk traffic stop in the 1000 Block of Palm Coast Parkway NW.
Two Hispanic males were detained without incident and were identified as Asdrubal Rodriquez and his passenger, Adrian Brook. While speaking with Rodriquez, 35, he advised that he has never been issued a Driver License in the United States, nor does he have a Driver License from his home country of Cuba.
Flagler County Communications Specialists searched all 50 states for a Driver License under the provided identifying information, however, there was no record of a driver’s license being issued to Rodriguez. FCSO used its Rapid-ID technology to verify his identity.
Rodriguez was arrested for Driving without a License and Detectives from FCSO’s Major Case Unit responded and began working with Houston, Texas police detectives. During the investigation, a search warrant was served on the car recovering approximately $79,000 in cash and gold jewelry, all taken from the robbery. Rodriguez later confessed to committing the robbery at the jewelry store in Houston, Texas, as well as pistol-whipping and spraying the victims with pepper spray during the robbery.
ICE was contacted regarding both men to which an ICE Detainer was obtained for Rodriguez. He is currently being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on $500 bond. Brook was released from the scene with no charges after ICE declined to respond. Yesterday Houston Police obtained a warrant for Aggravated Robbery with a Deadly Weapon. This warrant is in the process of being served on Rodriguez.
“Another criminal made the fatal mistake of coming to Flagler County not knowing that we work with our partners across the country,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our Major Case detectives are working with detectives in Houston for his connection to the jewelry store heist. We believe this robbery is part of a larger network of illegal immigrants committing crimes in America. I commend our deputies and the amazing professionals in the Real Time Crime Center and our Communications Center for helping bring this criminal to justice.”
For bodycam of the arrest: https://bit.ly/4a9IiBJ
UPDATE: With the warrant charge added, Asdrubal Rodriguez was upgraded from a bond of $500 to NO BOND. He is still being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
