Robbery suspect arrested in Lantana

A second suspect sought in the Dec. 11 robbery of  Tienda Mexican Store in Fanning Springs was arrested on Jan. 27 at a motel in Lantana, and the vehicle taken during his escape was also recovered, according to a Levy County Sheriff's Office press release. A third suspect in the case has not been located.

Raul Pagan Rodriguez, 43, of Honduras, has been charged with two counts of armed robbery. The first suspect, arrested shortly after the robbery, was Norbin Dejuses Medina, 36, of West Palm Beach and Honduras. He also faces two counts of armed robbery. The third man's identity is unknown.

Three men entered the store pretending to shop, went up to the check out counter and demanded money from the clerk at gunpoint. The clerk and a customer were pistol-whipped before the trio fled in a white Ford Explorer with an undisclosed amount of money.  It was the second time the store had been robbed in a similar fashion

The trio was found at a nearby convenience store/gas station but two of the three fled on foot and eluded officers and a K-9.

Later in the day a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier was taken from the parking lot at Discount  Liquor in Chiefland and deputies  speculated that at least one of the suspects took it and fled the area.

The Lantana Police Department located the vehicle at a motel and arrested Rodriguez on an outstanding warrant from Palm Beach County and the Levy County robbery charges.

Medina is being held on $100,000 bond and has a detainer for immigration officials.