NEWS RELEASE 20-085 - JULY 15, 2020
    
Rodriguez                                                         Trujillo

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested two Miami men in connection with stealing nearly $9,000 in merchandise from local Home Depot stores.

 

On Tuesday around 5:30 p.m., Tactical Unit deputies were alerted by loss prevention personnel to Otniel Rodriguez, DOB 06/14/83, filling a cart with nearly $4,000 in merchandise at the Cattlemen Home Depot location. Personnel also noticed Giraldo Trujillo, DOB 01/13/77, acting as a lookout near the entrance. When both suspects realized they were being monitored, they abandoned the merchandise inside the store and left the area in a black SUV. Tactical Unit deputies soon located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop near Laurel Road and Pinebrook Avenue in Venice. When deputies made contact with the duo, they observed similar merchandise inside the car that was later confirmed stolen from two other Home Depot stores in the area. The stolen items valued at $8,866 were recovered and returned to Home Depot representatives.

 

Rodriguez is charged with a single count of Grand Theft and was released on Wednesday on $1,500 bond. Trujillo is charged with Grand Theft and Driving While License Suspended. He remains in custody today on $2,000 bond.