DAVENPORT, Fla. — A man initially released from jail is back behind bars on the same charges related to a drug deal-turned-robbery that ended with gunfire, the Polk County Sheriff's Office says.
On Wednesday, deputies arrested 32-year-old Robert Cruceta-Pimentel for charges stemming from the December 2023 incident that resulted in the death of 33-year-old Harold Sepulveda-Cruz. Authorities say the two conspired with one another to stage a robbery during a drug deal.
The investigation began just before midnight Tuesday, Dec. 19, in the parking lot of the Tropicana Resort Motel located on Highway 27 in Davenport.
PCSO says Christian MacDonald arrived, got out of his car and got into Cruceta-Pimentel's car in the front passenger seat.
Shortly after that, investigators say Cruz got in the back passenger seat and tried to rob MacDonald using a fake gun, hitting him in the back several times. After that, MacDonald shot and killed Cruz, according to the sheriff's office.
MacDonald reportedly told law enforcement Cruz "immediately" started demanding money and drugs from both men and threatened to kill them if they didn't do what he wanted.
As the investigation continued, deputies said it became clear to them the shooting resulted from an illegal drug deal in the car and a robbery plot hatched between Cruz and Cruceta-Pimentel.
In new CCTV footage released by the sheriff's office, three people can be seen meeting up inside a white vehicle at the motel's parking lot.
Midway through the video, flashes of gunfire can be seen coming from inside the car, followed by two people getting out of the vehicle.
Deputies say it "clearly" shows Cruceta-Pimentel searching the back seat of his car, taking Cruz's cell phone, I.D. and other items before throwing them over a high fence.
Officials believe Cruceta-Pimentel was attempting to get rid of evidence, including anything that would indicate he knew Cruz personally.
Pimental lied to investigators saying he did not know Cruz, the sheriff's office said.
Pimental was arrested and charged on Dec. 20, 2023, and was held in the Polk County Jail on no bond.
He was released less than a year later on Sunday after the state attorney's office temporarily dismissed the charges
against him.
Polk County deputies then reportedly found a key witness after the case was dropped, allowing the state attorney's office to re-file all the charges against Cruceta-Pimentel.
Additionally, the sheriff's office says Cruceta-Pimentel's lawyer made a "snarky and braggadocios statement" that included false and exaggerated claims.
"I would like to thank lawyer Ralph R. Maiolino of the law firm Smith & Eulo PLLC for brining to my attention that the murder charge against his client, Mr. Cruceta, had been temporarily dropped," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "This allowed us to quickly locate a needed witness, which enabled the State Attorney's Office to re-file murder and other charges against his client. I thank the State Attorney's Office professional team for their persistent and hard work in this case."
Pimental is charged with:
- Felony second-degree murder
- Conspiracy to commit robbery
- Possession of cannabis with intent to sell
- Possession of heroin
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
- Maintaining a vehicle for drug use/sales
- Two charges of tampering with physical evidence
- Providing false information to a law enforcement officer during an investigation
- Unlawful use of two-way communication device
