A man in Hialeah is facing charges after he was caught on camera vandalizing gaming machines at a local café on Tuesday and stealing cash before fleeing the scene. Otniel Rodriguez, age 40, was arrested on burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief charges.
According to police, Rodriguez was identified as the suspect in the surveillance footage wearing a wig, a hat, and a mask that concealed his face. He was seen entering the Rainbow Café on West 19th Street and using an axe to smash several gaming machines inside the establishment while one man was present.
In the video, another individual tried to stop Rodriguez by using a chair, but he continued to cause damage to the machines. Rodriguez appeared in front of 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.
This is not the first time Rodriguez has been involved in crimes related to gaming machines. Investigators revealed that he 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.
Following his arrest, Rodriguez was booked into jail and remained in custody as of Thursday morning. Information about legal representation for Rodriguez was not available at the time.