Crime & Public Safety
Man charged after two Hialeah smoke shop encounters, second visit ends with rifle and pills taken
A Hialeah man is accused of trying to rob a smoke shop shortly before 1 a.m. Friday, then returning about 45 minutes later with a semiautomatic rifle and stealing roughly $1,600 worth of pills. According to police, the suspect initially walked behind the counter with a hand inside his hoodie, prompting the cashier—who recognized him as a regular—to grab a hookah pick and refuse demands; the suspect left and drove away in a dark-colored Ford Taurus. He returned wearing the same clothing but carrying a rifle fitted with a 100-round drum magazine, and authorities say pills were taken during that second visit. Hialeah police arrested 27-year-old Rafael Issac Rodriguez on Monday; jail records list one count of armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon and one count of attempted armed robbery with a firearm and mask. No injuries were reported. All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.