MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 24-year-old man from Texas was arrested earlier this week, months after he allegedly beat a man outside of a Panda Express on Flagler Street, stole the man’s phone and then Zelled himself $300 from the victim’s bank account.
According to an arrest warrant obtained Thursday by Local 10 News, Reiver Jose Sanchez-Molero, of Dallas, Texas, was arrested Tuesday on charges of armed robbery, aggravated battery with a weapon and false imprisonment with a deadly weapon.
The alleged attack and theft was reported at about 10:30 p.m. on April 29 outside the Panda Express at 8750 W. Flagler St.
Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the victim was about to enter the restaurant when he was approached by Sanchez-Molero, who was armed with a metal bat.
Sanchez-Molero chased the victim through the parking lot before striking the victim on the head multiple times with the bat, deputies said.
According to the warrant, Sanchez-Molero then forced the victim to the ground, snatched the victim’s cellphone from his hand and then transferred $300 to himself from the victim’s bank account via Zelle.
Deputies said the attack was captured on surveillance video.
According to the warrant, that video, along with the Wells Fargo bank account information to which the money was sent helped detectives identify Sanchez-Molero as the suspect.
Deputies said the victim also identified Sanchez-Molero in a photo lineup.
While Sanchez-Molero was identified as the suspect earlier this year, he was believed to be in Texas for some time, authorities said.
Online jail records show he was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Tuesday where he is being held without bond.
Records show that in addition to the charges related to the case, Sanchez-Molero is also being jailed on an immigration hold.
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