Fourth Suspect Charged In Shelton Liquor Store Robbery

Shelton detectives traveled to Florida last week to arrest a Bridgeport man they say robbed a Howe Avenue liquor store last December.

The man, 24-year-old Jeremy Rodriguez, is the fourth person to be charged in the stickup — including two of Rodriguez’s brothers who are currently behind bars.

Rodriguez faces charges of first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny, and carrying a dangerous weapon.

The charges date back to Dec. 16, 2014, when a robbery was reported about 8:45 p.m. at Cleto’s Wine Spirits & Ale, 402 Howe Ave.

Police said two men entered the store — one displaying a gun and another displaying a knife — and grabbed money and bottles of liquor before fleeing.

Eight days later, police got a break in the case after officers caught one of Rodriguez’s older brothers, Valentine Rodriguez, minutes after he had allegedly robbed a convenience store on River Road.

Detectives then compared the two heists and determined they were connected, and charged Valentine Rodriguez and the alleged getaway driver from the River Road stickup with the Cleto’s robbery as well.

Also charged with the Cleto’s stickup was another Rodriguez brother, Jonathan Rodriguez.

After detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Jeremy Rodriguez, police said in a prepared statement, Rodriguez fled to Florida.

But on Jan. 21, Rodriguez was charged by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office with dealing in stolen property and being a fugitive on the Shelton warrant.

Rodriguez was released in Florida Thursday (June 18) and taken back to Connecticut by Shelton detectives.

He was arraigned on the robbery charges Friday, where a judge ordered him held on $150,000 bond and continued the case to July 7.

Police said no further arrests are expected in the case.

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