Police arrested the suspect in the armed robbery of Sam’s Food Store as well as the getaway car driver.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police had issued a warrant for the arrest of Luis Rodriguez, the suspect in the armed robbery of the Sam’s Food Store on Aug. 6, and on Tuesday took him into custody without incident.

Police had also obtained a warrant and on Tuedsay arrested the getaway driver, identified as Larisa Almodovar, 43, who is Rodriguez’s girlfriend, Capt. Mike Perruccio said.

During their investigation, police had discovered that Almodovar was the driving the car that was used for Rodriguez’s escape from the scene of the armed robbery.

Rodriguez, of no certain address, was found at his mother’s house in East Hartford, police said. Almodovar, also of no certain address, was found at her job in New Britain.

Perruccio said that the gun used in the armed robbery was not found.

The suspect had entered the Sam’s Food Store at 9:33 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 6, police said, and reached over the counter with one hand to grab cash from the register drawer while holding what appeared to be a black pistol in the other hand. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

Rodriguez has been charged with first-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny, and second-degree unlawful restraint. He is being held on $500,000 bond and due in court Wednesday morning.

Almodovar has been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. She is being held on $100,000 bond and also due in court Wednesday morning.

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