Victim Wants Change, Gets Greeted with Assault Rifle, Authorities Say

In the process of trying to pay back $10, a man was allegedly greeted at the door of a Sarasota home with an assault rifle instead, according to the Sarasota Police Department.

The victim reportedly went to Robert L. Rodriguez's home on Gary Street in the early morning, May 11, to return the $10 he owed him. When the victim gave Rodriguez $100, he told authorities he expected change back from Rodriguez, police report.

Instead of getting his change, the victim was reportedly thrown out of the house, so he knocked on the door, authorities said.

"Rodriguez opened the door and pointed an assault rifle at the victim telling him he would kill him," police report.  

The victim called the police and officers arrived around 2:15 a.m.  Rodriguez would not come to the door but let officers know they would have to go in and get him. So the police "evacuated nearby homes, surrounded the house, and called out the SWAT Team. Rodriguez gave himself up and was arrested without incident," authorities said.

Police got a search warrant for Rodgriguez's home and reportedly found "a High Point Assault Rifle, ammunition, crack cocaine, powder cocaine and scales," officials said.

Rodriguez was arrested around 3:57 a.m. on the charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, police report.

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