Third suspect in hotel robbery captured

After a week of twists and turns, he decides to turn himself in. Then he changes his mind. Deputies finally get the upper hand.

By JOEL ANDERSON, Times Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Osvaldo Rojas has previously faced drug, weapons, DUI, sexual battery and fleeing charges.

BROOKSVILLE -- Osvaldo Rojas managed to elude authorities for a week, first escaping during a car chase in Spring Hill and then avoiding deputies who were feverishly hunting for him.

But detectives were closing in and, on Thursday night, Rojas agreed to surrender at his Spring Hill home. Then he changed his mind and fled again.

Hernando deputies were able to capture Rojas this time, corralling him behind the house and arresting him in connection with a home invasion and the robbery of a Hampton Inn in Spring Hill last week.

Rojas, 25, was the last of three suspects charged in the alleged crimes and remained in Hernando County Jail on Friday in lieu of bonds totaling $500,000. The other two suspects, Leo Johnson III, 36, and Michael Cardona, 24, both of Spring Hill, are also behind bars at the county jail.

The arrest of Rojas brings a close to a weeklong pursuit of the suspects in the early-morning Jan. 17 robbery of a Hampton Inn at 1344 Commercial Way and, hours later, a home invasion at 7218 Spring Hill Drive.

"Any time that we can get people accused of violent crimes into custody, it definitely relieves the stress that they could be in the process of committing another crime," Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donna Black said Friday.

Rojas, Johnson and Cardona are accused of starting off the morning of Jan. 17, just after 1 a.m., by assaulting a clerk at the hotel and stealing about $125 and the safe that contained it. About four hours later, the men allegedly forced their way into a Spring Hill home, pistol-whipped Darrell Charles, 22, and took about $600 in cash that the victim said was his rent money.

Charles, who lives at the home, told detectives he was an acquaintance of the suspects and had been warned by others that the trio would be coming to rob him, according to a report from the Sheriff's Office. His injuries weren't considered serious and he didn't have to go to a hospital.

Because Charles was able to identify his attackers, Hernando deputies quickly moved to apprehend Johnson at his home in the 3400 block of Redwing Drive around 2:30 p.m. As the detectives took Johnson into custody, Cardona and Rojas drove past the house in a white van, the Sheriff's Office said.

As Cardona and Rojas drove off, authorities tried to stop them, setting off a chase that lasted for several hours and swept through the quiet neighborhoods surrounding Lake Theresa. Cardona and Rojas eventually abandoned the van and ran from the area.

Cardona evaded arrest until he was pulled over while driving along Sealawn Drive in Spring Hill last Saturday night. He surrendered to sheriff's deputies without a struggle, telling deputies that "he was tired of running," according to an arrest report.

The search for Rojas lasted a little longer. However, Detective Pete Ciucci was eventually able to arrange for Rojas' surrender at his home at 7366 Canterbury Street in Spring Hill, Black said.

Rojas apparently had second thoughts when Ciucci arrived at the home and tried to flee again. But a police helicopter and canine units found Rojas hiding behind the house and he was soon in custody.

"It involved a lot of hard work by detectives and deputies to attempt to locate these subjects," Black said. "There was a lot of time, effort and a lot of negotiation that went on behind the scenes."

All three suspects have had brushes with the law in Hernando.

Rojas was arrested at least three times in 2007, including most recently in May on charges of fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer. Over the years, Rojas has also been charged with crimes ranging from driving under the influence, possession of crack cocaine and sexual battery.

Cardona has previously faced charges for fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer, grand theft auto and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Johnson has a criminal history that includes arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drugs without a prescription and carrying a concealed weapon.

Joel Anderson can be reached at joelanderson@sptimes.com or (352) 754-6120.

[Last modified January 25, 2008, 21:29:12]