On Tuesday, a man in Hialeah was caught on camera vandalizing gaming machines and stealing cash at a local café. Otniel Rodriguez, 40, was arrested on burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief charges.
According to police, Rodriguez was identified as the suspect in surveillance footage wearing a wig, a hat, and a mask that concealed his face. He entered the Rainbow Café on West 19th Street and used an axe to smash several gaming machines while one man was present. Another individual tried to stop him by using a chair, but he continued to cause damage to the machines.
The video shows Rodriguez appearing before a Miami-Dade bond court judge on Wednesday. The judge stated that he destroyed three gaming machines and stole $7,000 in cash during the incident. It is not clear from the information provided if this is the first time Rodriguez has been involved in crimes related to gaming machines.
Investigators revealed that Rodriguez committed a similar offense on February 29th at a Hialeah gas station, where he used a small hammer to damage three gaming machines and steal money. The owners of the Rainbow Café expressed their gratitude for the quick response of the Hialeah Police Department in investigating and apprehending Rodriguez. They praised the police for their efforts in solving the case.
Rodriguez remains in jail as of Thursday morning with no legal representation available at this time.
