An Odessa couple was arrested Tuesday in connection with a shoplifting incident that police said took a violent turn back in July.
According to an Odessa Police Department report, the manager of a Dollar General store on East Eighth Street called 911 on July 9 to report a robbery.
When officers got to the scene, the manager told them she’d seen Bianca Rodriguez Rodriguez, 36, stuffing hygiene, cosmetics and clothing into her purse. When she confronted Rodriguez, the manager said she refused to return the items and pushed her out of the way as she tried to leave the store, the report stated.
The manager grabbed Rodriguez’s purse and when two co-workers came to her aid, Rodriguez called her husband, Adrian Adonnas Sotelo, 37, to come help her. According to the report, Sotelo grabbed the purse out of the manager’s hands and he and Rodriguez left in a Ford F-150.
Officers tracked the Ford F-150 down after watching surveillance videos and after arriving at the registered owner’s house, Rodriguez confessed, the report stated.
The store manager ended up with bruises and scratches, according to the report.
Warrants were issued for Rodriguez and Sotelo and both were arrested on suspicion of robbery, a Class 2 felony, Tuesday. If convicted, the pair could receive a prison sentence of between two and 20 years.
Sotelo was released from the Ector County jail Wednesday after posting a $40,000 surety bond. Rodriguez, who was also arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge, was released Thursday after posting surety bonds totaling $32,500.
