Suspect in LaBelle pawnshop robbery arrested

An arrest was made Friday for the robbery of a LaBelle pawnshop, where guns were stolen and employees were tied up.

Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is leading the investigation of a robbery at Capital Pawn on Hickpochee Avenue around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, where a robber got away with stolen guns and other possible items from the shop.

According to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect, Raynaldo Ray Quiroga, 36, is behind bars and faces charges of robbery with a firearm, false imprisonment, impersonating an officer, grand theft of a firearm among other charges.

Friday night, Quiroga is Hendry County Jail. He’s a convicted felon who escaped from prison.

The sheriff’s office has yet to find those six weapons that were stolen. He got away with five handguns and one assault-style rifle.

HCSO said Quiroga was wearing a law enforcement-style uniform with a badge and holster during the robbery.

Once inside the store, Quiroga allegedly gave orders to employees and patrons before tying them up. After everyone was secured, HCSO says, he took six guns from the store before getting away.

We spoke to the owner of Capital Pawn Thursday morning. He told us he never expected to be held up by a law enforcement officer. He’s happy everyone went home safe.

The fact that a man posed as a cop to steal guns from a pawn shop made people in LaBelle very nervous.

Margarita Lugo lives in LaBelle. “Where is he at right now? Where is he at right now? Has he done it somewhere else? You know has he done it before? Or did he do it again? I don’t know,” said Lugo.

The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office arrested Quiroga late Thursday night.

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