A man is facing charges after police said he was caught on camera smashing gaming machines at a Hialeah café on Tuesday before fleeing with cash.
Otniel Rodriguez, 40, was arrested Tuesday on burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief charges.
Police said Rodriguez was the suspect who was caught on surveillance footage entering the Rainbow Café on West 19th Street wearing a wig, a hat, and a mask that covered his face.
According to Rodriguez's arrest report, he knocked on the door of the business while it was still not open to the public and forced himself in while wearing a wig under a white and blue snap-back ball cap.
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Officials said the suspect proceeded to pull out an axe and smash several gaming machines inside the cafeteria.
The arrest report says that the people inside the café at the time tried stopping Rodriguez with bar stools without luck.
Rodriguez exited the cafeteria and while on his way out, struck one of the victims with his elbow, fleeing the scene in a gray Toyota Corolla, according to the report.
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Rodríguez appeared before a Miami-Dade bond court judge on Wednesday. According to the judge, Rodríguez destroyed three gaming machines and stole $7,000 in cash.
In the report, it's mentioned that the total damage to the machined was approximately $2,000.00.
Investigators said it’s not Rodríguez’s first offense involving gaming machines.
He allegedly committed a similar crime on February 29th at a Hialeah gas station, where he reportedly used a small hammer to damage three gaming machines and steal cash while wearing a black ski mask and sportive orange sunglasses over a baseball cap, according to the report.
The owners of the Rainbow Café expressed gratitude for Rodríguez’s arrest.
"The business owners are very grateful to the Hialeah police department for their quick response, investigation and arrest of the suspect," the owners said in a statement.
Rodriguez was booked into jail, where he remained held Thursday morning. Attorney information wasn't available.
