BOCA RATON– Boca Raton Police arrested a suspect twice in three days. He was identified as Stephen Rodriguez, 23, of Boca Raton.
Police said the first crime happened on Sept. 20 just before 9 p.m.Boca RatonPolice officers responded to an automobile burglary in the 800 block of Aurelia Street. The victim was sitting in his car with the engine off when an unknown male opened the passenger door and started to reach for the glove box. The victim spoke to the suspect, who fled east onAurelia Street.
While K9 was tracking, a witness told officers they saw a male matching the suspect description drop a wallet while running east. The wallet belonged to Stephen Rodriguez, who lives in the neighborhood. Officers located Rodriguez several blocks away. Officers arrested Rodriguez and charged him with burglary to a conveyance.
On Sept. 23 at about 12:30 a.m., officers responded to a burglary to a home in the 500 block ofNW 7th Avenue. The victim told officers she was awakened when she heard an unknown male’s voice coming from the entrance to her bedroom. The suspect, who was kneeling on the floor outside her bedroom door, was bowing and waving his arms up and down, and said he wanted to talk to her. He said he was her neighbor, Stephen Rodriguez, and she needed to talk to him. The victim asked the suspect to leave and he did.
Officers checking the area located Rodriguez a few blocks away. Rodriguez ran from officers, but they were able to apprehend him after a short foot chase. The victim identified Rodriguez as the person who was inside her home. Officers arrested Rodriguez and while they were processing him at the Police Department, Rodriguez became combative and hit an officer in the face.
Officers charged Rodriguez with burglary to an occupied dwelling, resisting arrest, and battery on an officer.