Reported carjacking at mall a hoax

The man who said someone grabbed him at Citrus Park Town Center and took his car, later retracted the story.

By MICHAEL SANDLER

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 19, 2000

CITRUS PARK -- Ralph Rodriguez told authorities earlier this month that someone grabbed him outside the Citrus Park Town Center in broad daylight, pushed a hard object into his back, demanded his keys and drove off with his car.

St. Petersburg Police found the car, and its driver, but didn't arrest him. There were some more questions for Rodriguez.

Hillsborough sheriff's deputies said the 44-year-old salesman admitted Thursday that the Nov. 8 carjacking was a hoax. Rodriguez told deputies he made the story up in an attempt to regain the 2000 Ford Focus he had initially traded away.

Rodriguez, of Tampa, was charged with filing a false report of crime to law enforcement, a misdemeanor. He was not detained but must appear in criminal court.

"He entered into a business transaction and then decided to report (the car) stolen," said sheriff's spokesman Rod Reder. "He wanted his car back."

The hint of a possible hoax surfaced Nov. 9 when St. Petersburg Police discovered the car but did not detain its driver.

Officials from both agencies said Vico Lamarr Holmes -- the man found driving the car in downtown St. Petersburg -- said things that prompted Hillsborough sheriff's deputies to continue investigating the alleged crime. The driver said he paid Rodriguez $40 for use of the car.

"He was not arrested based on his statements," Bates said.

In an interview with the St. Petersburg Times on Nov. 9, Rodriguez said he had just finished lunch and was walking to his car when an attacker seized him from behind in the parking lot of the mall.

"I did exactly what he wanted," Rodriguez said . "I gave him the keys and did not turn around, like he told me to. I was just concerned with my safety. I did not want to take a chance."

Rodriguez also complained that he would have to pay $91 to get his car back, which St. Petersburg Police impounded after the recovery.

Hours later, Rodriguez called the reporter back and asked to retract his statements. When told the alleged carjacker said he had rented the car, Rodriguez replied, "sounds like an excuse to save his ass."

Rodriguez could not be reached for further comment Friday.

The alleged incident would have been the first serious crime at the mall since it opened in March of 1999.

"Obviously, they (St. Petersburg police) were savvy enough to know something was wrong with the story and made a good decision not to arrest," Reder said. "They were smart enough to listen to this guy's story."

- Michael Sandler can be reached at (813) 226-3472 or sandler@sptimes.com.

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