Two Major Crimes detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Ocala man Friday in connection with an armed robbery at a Dollar General store.
Detectives Aaron Levy and Bradley Bartlett took 22-year-old into custody after locating him at his residence, located six miles from the Marion Oaks Dollar General store that was robbed at gunpoint Thursday. They discovered “key evidence” at his house “positively identifying Rodney as the suspect,” a sheriff’s office report states.
Detectives say an armed man wearing a mask entered the Dollar General store, located at 896 Marion Oaks Manor, and demanded money from the store employees. They gave him the cash and he fled the store, the report says.
Multiple sheriff’s deputies, as well as Levy and Bartlett, responded to the scene and were able to locate Rodney and his vehicle at his residence in the 3500 block of SW 173rd Place Rd. Clothing matching the description that was worn by the robbery suspect was seen in plain view inside Rodney’s vehicle, the report says.
Rodney was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with robbery with a firearm. He is being held on $50,000 bond.
Rodney also was arrested late on the night of Aug. 23 and charged with cruelty toward a child without great bodily harm. That case is still active and Rodney has pleaded not guilty, Marion County Court records show.