Coral Gables Mugging Suspect May Have Struck Before
CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) – Police have identified a man they believe mugged a woman in broad daylight in Coral Gables and stole nearly $60,000 in jewelry and personal items.
It happened March 28th, just before 11 a.m., at 6400 Madruga Court. Trudy Courey, 48, said she was about to get into her Lincoln Navigator and head home to Miami Beach when she noticed a man walking toward her, she also noticed that he was pointing a gun at her. According to the incident report, the man ordered Courey to get into her SUV. When she did, he placed himself on top of her in the driver's seat and ordered her to hand over her phone.
Courey dropped her phone. He then demanded that she give him her purse. Before she could react, the man ripped the purse from her arm and grabbed two rings off her fingers before running off, according to police.
Jose Gonzalez, 47, said he saw the two together and at first thought it was just a husband and wife having a fight. But when Gonzalez saw the man run off with Courey's purse, he realized he had just witnessed a robbery.
Coral Gables police officers canvassing the area found one of the rings ripped off of Courey's hand.
Based on her description and their subsequent investigation, police said they suspect the man who robbed Courey was 33-year old Armando Rodriguez of Miami Shores.
Rodriguez, who is also wanted for a robbery on Feb. 11th in Miami Beach, is a suspect in a number of other active investigations across South Florida.
Police said Rodriguez is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone knowing his whereabouts is urged to call their local police department or Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
