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Jose Rodriguez, 65, was charged with first-degree robbery, possession of a facsimile firearm, assault on a police officer, interfering with a police officer and sixth-degree larceny. He was held on $250,000 bond and will appear in court on Feb. 13.
At 2:40 a.m. Thursday, Norwalk police received a report of a silent hold-up alarm at the Shorehaven Mobil on East Avenue. Officers Garrett Kruger and Kelly Haddy responded quickly and saw a man later identified as Rodriguez leaving through the front door, police said. A store clerk then ran to the officers and told them that Rodriguez had a gun and had just robbed the store, according to police.
The officers drew their firearms and ordered Rodriguez to stop, police said. He refused and began walking away quickly with his hand tucked in his waistband, police said. He was ordered to stop several times and continued to refuse, and officers saw him jerk his hand out of his waistband, according to police reports.
They saw him throw a small black handgun onto the snow next to him, according to police. Officers tried to take him into custody, but he actively fought and resisted the officers, police said. They then Tased him and took him into custody, police said.
Officers discovered that the gun was a black CO2 pellet gun. Cash, cigarettes, lottery tickets and lighters stolen during the robbery were found in his possession, according to police reports.
Police said the store clerk was not injured in the robbery, and that Rodriguez was evaluated at Norwalk Hospital due to being Tased.
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