Police use iCloud to find kidnapping, armed robbery suspects at Denny's

Suspects accused of stealing North Bay Village man's iPhone, other belongings

Ellis Colon de la Rosa, Rafael Mayeta Castillo and Nomar Sanchez Figueroa were arrested after police tracked them down at a Denny's restaurant in Coral Gables.

NORTH BAY VILLAGE, Fla. – Three suspects accused of kidnapping a North Bay Village man and robbing him at gunpoint were arrested after police used the victim's iCloud account to track them down at a Denny's restaurant in Coral Gables, police said.

Ellis Colon de la Rosa, Rafael Mayeta Castillo and Nomar Sanchez Figueroa face multiple charges, including armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and armed kidnapping.

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According to a North Bay Village police report, the resident met Sanchez Figueroa two days earlier and agreed to meet with him to show him some cellphones that he had for sale.

The men met Monday night in Sanchez Figueroa's car. The victim told police that he got into the back seat of the car to show Sanchez Figueroa some iPhones, laptops and sunglasses that he had for sale, but there were two other people, identified as Colon de la Rosa and Mayeta Castillo, in the car.

Police said Colon de la Rosa pulled out a gun and put it to the victim's head while Sanchez Figueroa and Mayeta Castillo took his watch, jewelry and other personal belongings.

The man was driven several blocks before they forced him out of the car, telling him that they would kill him if he called police, the report said.

Ignoring their threat, the man ran to the North Bay Village Police Department and reported the crime.

Police tracked the man's stolen iPhone using his iCloud account, which led officers to a Denny's on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, where the suspects were taken into custody.

A search of the car turned up all of the man's stolen property, police said.

All three suspects were being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Police said Sanchez Figueroa was also wanted on an outstanding warrant in Orange County.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.