SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFFS OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Navarre Man Arrested for Armed Home Invasion

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office investigators have arrested one of the suspects believed to be responsible for a home invasion that occurred in Navarre on Friday. The incident began on 02/01/08 at approximately 1200 hours, when Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 1900 block of Catamaran Drive, Navarre, Florida, in reference to an armed home invasion. The complainant, an adult female who is not being identified, stated that while she was alone with her newborn baby at the address on Catamaran Drive, some unidentified suspects forced their way into the house at gun point and ransacked the house. The suspects had already left the scene in a vehicle prior to the deputies arriving at the residence. The female victim told deputies that while she was in the living room, she observed a male suspect approach the front door. The suspect knocked and as the victim opened the door, he pushed the door open and displayed a handgun. The victim's baby was crying, and the suspect made the victim take her baby into the bathroom. The suspect closed the door leaving it ajar so he could watch the female victim. The victim then heard the suspect speak to another male inside the residence. The door was then closed completely and the victim heard conversation that made her believe that there were more suspects inside the residence. The victim heard noises which sounded like things being thrown about the house for 5-10 minutes and then things got quiet. The victim waited approximately five minutes before exiting the bathroom and discovered that the suspects had departed. The victim was able to give a description of the one suspect to investigators. A witness in the neighborhood told investigators that they had observed a vehicle that was parked near the victim's residence during the time of the robbery. The witness also observed three subjects running from the direction of the incident, then jump into the vehicle and speed away.

After following different leads, investigators identified one of the possible suspects as being Armando Rodriguez. It was determined that Rodriguez was the alleged suspect that came into the house brandishing the handgun. During the early morning hours of 2/05/08 , investigators located Rodriguez at his residence on Deer Lane, Navarre, FL. It was at that time that investigators arrested Rodriguez and transported him to the Santa Rosa County Jail. The other suspects have not yet been identified. The investigation is ongoing.

SUSPECT:

Armando Rodriguez, H/M, 10/3/1988

9036 Deer Lane, Navarre , FL

CHARGES:

Home Invasion Robbery with a Firearm, 1 st degree felony

Petit Theft, 2 nd degree misdemeanor

NO BOND

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net