Hot Springs police have withdrawn an aggravated robbery charge against a teenager who was arrested Tuesday in connection with the armed robbery of E-Z Mart last week after arresting another teen who allegedly confessed to the crime.
Police had initially arrested Simon Derick Hernandez, 18, of Hot Springs, after he reportedly bragged about robbing the store, located at 505 Summer St., and knew details of the robbery that had not been made public.
After further investigation, detectives arrested Dylan Kalani Rodrigues, 18, of 942 Third St., taking him into custody at his home at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and charging him with one count of aggravated robbery, punishable by up to life in prison.
Rodrigues appeared via video in Garland County District Court Friday morning and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He had initially been held on zero bond but Judge Meredith Switzer set his bond at $20,000 and a felony review hearing is set for Oct. 8. She also issued a court order barring Rodrigues from having any contact with the E-Z Mart.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 2 a.m. on Aug. 7, a white male suspect entered the E-Z Mart and pointed a silver handgun at the clerk, demanding all the packs of Newport 100 cigarettes. The clerk complied and the man fled the store with 28 packs, valued at $203.84.
The robber was wearing a ball cap and sunglasses with a bandanna covering his face so the only discernible features visible on the store's security video were that he was white, average build, with bushy dark hair.
Video from a neighboring business revealed the robber was dropped off by a green early 2000s model Dodge Ram 4 with some minor damage to the driver's side front bumper and a scooter in the bed. The truck stopped just past the E-Z Mart and the robber walked straight into the store.
On Monday, a witness came forward and stated Hernandez was bragging to him he had robbed the E-Z Mart and had information "only a person with intimate knowledge of the crime would have known," the affidavit states.
After he was arrested, Hernandez denied being involved in the robbery and told police he only knew the details because an acquaintance of his, identified as Rodrigues, had committed the robbery. Hernandez also provided information about the owner of the green Dodge and Detective Scott Lampinen responded to the truck's location and identified it as the suspect vehicle. He also made contact with a relative of the owner.
On Wednesday, a man came to the police department who reportedly admitted he was driving the truck the night of the robbery and Rodrigues and another person were in the truck. He said he stopped just past the E-Z Mart and let Rodrigues out, which was corroborated by the video.
Lampinen went to Rodrigues' residence on Third Street and made contact with him. Rodrigues reportedly admitted he robbed the E-Z Mart and was taken into custody. After being read his rights, he reportedly gave a full confession to the crime.
Local on 08/18/2018