Grady Judd: Suspect in botched deadly robbery back behind bars after charges temporarily dropped

Grady Judd: Suspect dead after trying to rob man with fake gun

FOX 13 News.

DAVENPORT, Fla. - A suspect in a botched robbery that turned deadly outside a Davenport motel last year is back behind bars, according to law enforcement officials.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said Robert Cruceta-Pimentel, 32, was arrested once again on the same charges related to the December 2023 botched robbery that turned into a deadly self-defense shooting.

Investigators said this comes after all the charges were dropped against him temporarily by the State Attorney's Office.

Planned robbery turned deadly shooting

Deputies said Cruceta-Pimentel was involved in the botched robbery that led to the death of Harold Omar Sepulveda-Cruz. It all happened outside the Tropicana Resort Motel near I-4 and US 27 in Davenport.

READ: Grady Judd: Suspect who tried to rob Davenport man with fake gun shot and killed outside motel

Previous coverage: Robbery turns deadly at Davenport hotel

Carla Bayron reports.

Cruceta-Pimentel and Sepulveda-Cruz were accused of conspiring together to stage a robbery during a marijuana sale in the suspect's vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.

As the sale was happening, Sepulveda-Cruz hopped into the back of the car and threatened the victim with a fake gun, which was made out of a screwdriver and a piece of wood.

According to authorities, that's when the victim pulled out a gun he was carrying and shot behind him into the back of the car multiple times, hitting Sepulveda-Cruz and killing him.

Cruceta-Pimentel was accused of grabbing the fake gun and marijuana and throwing it over a fence at the motel.

Why were charges dropped?

The suspect was originally arrested on 10 charges on December 20, 2023, after the shooting. Cruceta-Pimentel was behind bars at the Polk County Jail until he was released on Sunday after charges were dropped.

Pictured: Robert Cruceta-Pimentel. Courtesy: Polk County Jail.

No information was immediately released on why the charges were temporarily dropped in the case.

However, Cruceta-Pimentel's lawyer, Ralph Maiolino III with Smith and Eulo PLLC, released a statement about his client's release, which PCSO officials said "included false and exaggerated claims."

Back behind bars

The sheriff's office said they were able to quickly locate a key witness, which allowed for prosecutors to re-file charges against the suspect just three days after he was released.

"I would like to thank lawyer Ralph R. Maiolino of the law firm Smith & Eulo PLLC for bringing to my attention that the murder charge against his client, Mr. Cruceta, had been temporarily dropped," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement Wednesday. "This allowed us to quickly locate a needed witness, which enabled the State Attorney's Office to re-file murder and other charges against his client. I thank the State Attorney's Office professional team for their persistent and hard work in this case."

Now that Cruceta-Pimentel is back in jail, PCSO said he is facing multiple charges, including: