A botched stop sign led to a Florida collar for a man linked to a $1 million heist in Houston. Asdrubal Rodriguez, 35, found himself in cuffs after deputies in sunny Flagler County nabbed him for skipping a traffic signal—the initial domino that revealed his connection to the Texas robbery of a jewelry store that lost gems and cash galore, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Law enforcement officials say Rodriguez and another suspect assaulted and pepper-sprayed the store's owners before snagging over a million in shiny baubles and greenbacks. The second robber and the getaway driver are still playing a game of hide and seek with the cops. A casino of surveillance footage pointed the finger at Rodriguez after a Chevy Tahoe he was later caught driving was seen tailing the Nissan Xterra used in the Houston caper, according to a KHOU report.
After the traffic gaffe led to a stop and a chat, deputies unearthed that Rodriguez was a non-holder of a valid U.S. driver's license. But that was just the entree. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer threw a wrench into any quick exit plans, thanks to a peek into his background that revealed an illegal residence in the States since his arrival from Cuba four years prior.
"Through our investigation, we do believe he is part of a much more organized and bigger crime ring that’s operating in the United States involving foreign nationals," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said, as per the KHOU interview. The search after Rodriguez's capture churned up $79,000 in cash and sundry gold items in the commandeered Chevy - believed to be spoils from the Houston store. And the Maryland resident sang like a canary under questioning, confessing his role in the violent heist.
Houston's finest are still combing through clues to snag the remaining suspects. Meanwhile, Rodriguez is cooling his heels, with an extradition warrant for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon pending to bring him back to Harris County for a judicial square-off. For those harboring any knowledge about the remaining pieces of this criminal puzzle, Houston police welcome tips at 713-222-8477 or through their anonymous online tipline.
