Crime & Safety
Dropped Cell Phone Leads To Arrest of Valrico Walgreens Robbery Suspect
Luis Rodriguez of Brandon reportedly flees before retrieving the cell phone he dropped after a struggle with a Walgreens pharmacist. A TECO auditor was at the suspect's home, and was one of the last numbers Rodriguez dialed, deputies report.
A Brandon man is behind bars after he dropped his cell phone during a robbery at a Valrico Walgreens, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
"In a case like this the suspect made it extremely easy to find him and take him into custody," said Debbie Carter, a sheriff's office spokesperson.
Luis Rodriguez, 29, reportedly dropped his phone as he struggled with a pharmacist at 10:54 a.m., June 22, at the Walgreens in Valrico at 2110 East State Road 60.
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According to the sheriff’s report, Rodriguez asked to see syringes, then tried to snatch them from the pharmacist; a struggle ensued and Rodriguez fled the store with the syringes — but not his cell phone.
On finding the phone, deputies called the last numbers that the suspect had called and reached a TECO auditor, who was at the suspect's home, at 509 Holiday Terrace, conducting an electrical audit.
Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The TECO auditor reportedly told deputies he saw Rodriquez running into the house, which was shortly after the robbery.
Deputies responded to the suspect's residence and reportedly found him hiding in the attic. They were able to talk the suspect out of his hiding spot. He was taken into custody and charged with robbery.
