A dogged Miami-Dade Police Kendall District officer’s persistent interviewing and follow through earned a special citation for his arrest of two burglary suspects.
Arriving in response to a dispatched call of a vehicle theft in progress, Officer Angel Rodriguez decided detailed interviewing was in order when he found both victim and suspect in a vehicle, recovered without incident on Sept. 22.
When the vehicle owner said theft of his car keys already had been reported to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Rodriguez verified the report as well as theft of other stolen items taken from the victim.
After reading the subject his Miranda rights, Officer Rodriquez began questioning him how he possessed the keys to the victim’s vehicle, as well as the location of the remainder of property that was stolen.
The subject provided a street name for the second person who had given him the keys, further stating that individual had additional property taken from the victim, although he could “not provide any definitive information” about the second individual.
Utilizing his investigative experience and the county’s computer system, Officer Rodriguez ran extensive checks to identify the second subject and a location where he might live. Rodriguez went to the address, made contact with a second person and arranged for an “orchestrated show up” producing positive identification of the second subject who then admitted to knowledge of the stolen property.
The officer’s persistent questioning not only led to the recovery of the stolen vehicle and property “but was significantly instrumental in the apprehension of two previously convicted burglars, taking them off the streets of Miami-Dade County,” CAC chair Barry White stated.
Officer Rodriguez actions “exemplify outstanding investigative skills and perseverance…above and beyond the ordinary call of duty to investigate leads and pursue additional subjects, resulting in the recovery of stolen property,” the citation naming him October’s Officer of the Month concluded.
