Lakeland Police Investigate Strong Armed Robbery

<p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Lakeland Police are investigating a strong armed robbery that<a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef01310f3adda1970c-pi" style="FLOAT: right"><img alt="10_20" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef01310f3adda1970c " src="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef01310f3adda1970c-800wi" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" title="10_20" /></a> occurred on February 22, 2010, at 5011 Williamstown Blvd. (Carlton Arms Apartments), in Lakeland, Florida, at approximately 11:00 PM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Victim, Amanda Rivas, age 24, was retrieving items from her parked vehicle when the suspect, later identified as Miguel Angel Rodriguez, age 18, ran up to Rivas and took a bag from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Rodriguez then ran and entered a vehicle containing other occupants and fled the scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>The victim’s boyfriend, Jeremy Williams, age 22, and his roommates, chased the suspect vehicle.</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">As the victims followed the vehicle, Rodriguez intentionally produced a 22 caliber rifle and fired several shots at the victim’s vehicle, at which time the victims abandoned the chase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span></span></strong></p><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span><o:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&#0160;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The occupants of the suspect vehicle fled on foot after the suspect vehicle struck a curb and was rendered inoperable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Lakeland Police Officers responded to the area and located Rodriguez in an adjacent neighborhood walking on foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>The investigation found Rodriguez was the person who shot at the victims and who took the bag from Rivas.</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Rodriguez was arrested and charged with Strong Armed Robbery (F2), Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle (F2), and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm (F3).</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This case is still under investigation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Media inquiries should be directed to Sergeant Terri Smith, PIO, 863.834.6917.</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></span></strong>&#0160;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef01310f3aec84970c"><a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/files/10_20a.pdf">Download Redacted Complaint Affidavit&#0160; </a></span></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></span></strong>&#0160;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; COLOR: #00007f; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Sgt. Terri Smith<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p></o:p></span></strong>&#0160;