A man and woman were arrested in connection with an armed robbery of a store in Fort Pierce where the woman worked, law enforcement officials said. Numerous cell phones worth more than $3,000 and a deposit bag with about $1,635 were stolen.
Dezler Rosario Lopez, 26, of the 1800 block of 78th Court, and Kariana Casanova, 25, of the 600 block of 23rd Place Southwest, were each charged with grand theft more than $300.
Casanova also was charged with fraud and making a false report and Lopez was also charged with scheme to defraud. Both are from Indian River County.
Delzer Lopez
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Kariana Casanova
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Lopez is being held at the Indian River County Jail on $15,000 bond while Casanova is at the St. Lucie County Jail; her bond amount was not available.
Authorities believe the pair are related.
Fort Pierce police officers went to the Metro PCS store about 8 a.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of U.S. 1 in response to an armed robbery. Officers spoke with an employee, later identified as Casanova, who said she went to the store earlier to grab a deposit bag from the safe and take it to the bank.
She said she was leaving when a man pulled out a handgun and ordered her back into the store, officers said. She said the man, later identified as Lopez, told her to take him to the safe.
Casanova said Lopez stole numerous cell phones and a deposit bag from the safe. She said Lopez also stole her personal cell phone.
The officer told Casanova that the stolen phone pinged to her brother’s address.
Officers went to Lopez’ residence. Some of the clothing he wore during the robbery, shown on a surveillance video, was found in his vehicle with a black pellet gun, a blue money bag, numerous store phones in boxes and a sticky note with deposit amounts written on them.
Lopez denied being part of the robbery, officers said.
Officers spoke again with Casanova later that day. Details of that interview are redacted from the arrest report.
From that interview, officers determined Casanova played a part in the armed robbery plot. Lopez and Casanova were then booked into jail.
