MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A man dubbed the “Tequila Bandit” by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office was arrested after investigators said he was caught on surveillance video stealing multiple bottles of alcohol before later being pulled over in St. Lucie County on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday, Michael Ruiz, 31, was caught on camera stuffing multiple bottles of tequila into his backpack. A short time later, Ruiz was stopped in St. Lucie County by sheriff’s deputies on suspicion of driving under the influence.
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Deputies with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office quickly identified Ruiz as the suspected “Tequila Bandit,” whom Martin County investigators say stole thousands of dollars’ worth of liquor from a retail store.
Surveillance video released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office shows Ruiz taking bottles of alcohol from store shelves and placing them into his backpack. The video also appears to show him taking cases of alcohol from a back room before carrying the items to his vehicle.
Ruiz now faces charges related to the Martin County theft as well as the DUI arrest.
Martin County deputies believe Ruiz may be connected to other tequila thefts in the area.