Men charged with stealing credit cards from St. Patrick's Day partiers bought $75 of shots
WEST PALM BEACH —Two Miami-Dade County men accused of stealing wallets and phones from five St. Patrick's Day partiers and a bartender in downtown West Palm Beach on Friday night were arrested and charged, but not before they and a third accomplice paid for $75 worth of shots with stolen credit cards, city police said Sunday.
Jose Gonzalez Rodriguez, 45, of Hialeah, and Orlando Milan, 54, of Miami, were arrested Friday night. Gonzalez Rodriguez was charged with credit card theft and credit card fraud, while Milan was charged with possession of a stolen credit card, the release said. A third Miami-Dade County man was arrested but police have not yet charged him, and did not disclose his name.
Most of downtown West Palm Beach's Clematis Street had been blocked off Friday night for a massive St. Patrick's Day party that spanned several blocks. Hundreds of people enjoyed live music, St. Patrick's Day drink specials and a packed bar scene that centered around Roxy's Pub to the east and O'Shea's Pub to the west.
Around 11 p.m. Friday, five women from Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Pennsylvania were at Roxy's Pub when they realized some of their cellphones and wallets had been stolen from their purses. West Palm Beach Police confirmed that the womens' credit cards had already been used in the same area — at Grease Burger Bar on Clematis Street and 123 Datura, a bar and club east of the St. Patrick's Day scene.
Three men using the cards had rung up hundreds in charges, including a $75 round of shots, the news release said. Police arrested the men, and charged Gonzalez Rodriguez and Milan in connection with the stolen credit cards.
After their arrest, a bartender at 123 Datura discovered her cellphone was missing. Police found the phone in the Nissan Rogue the three men were driving, which was impounded when they were arrested.
As of Sunday morning, Gonzalez Rodriguez had been released from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office main detention center on a personal recognizance bond. Milan remained detained on $4,500 bail.
11 charged with DUI on Friday night, Saturday morning
There was a heavy police presence in downtown West Palm Beach on St. Patrick's Day, a popular day for partying and consuming alcohol.
Detention center records show that 11 people were arrested and charged with driving under the influence across Palm Beach County between noon on Friday and noon on Saturday. One person was arrested and charged with public disorderly intoxication.
Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work, subscribe today!
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Men arrested for stealing cards at West Palm Beach St. Patrick's Day
