Homeless man accused of robbing bank in Hialeah

Rochel Novoa implied he had weapon during robbery, police say

Rochel Novoa (left); Regions Bank security video (right)

HIALEAH, Fla. – Police arrested a homeless man Tuesday in connection with a bank robbery this weekend in Hialeah, authorities said.

Eddie Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Hialeah Police Department, said 41-year-old Rochel Novoa entered a Regions Banks branch around 9:30 a.m. Saturday and demanded money from the bank teller. Novoa, who implied he had a gun, fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money, Rodriguez said. 

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After the robbery, authorities released images from the bank's security videos showing the bank robber, who was not disguised.

On Tuesday, a Hialeah police officer spotted a man whose appearance matched that of the man in the security video walking in the area of East Fourth Avenue, Rodriguez said. The officer arrested Novoa without incident, Rodriguez said.