Video shows North Miami police arrest man accused of stealing wine from multiple Publix loading docks

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – He blended successful similar immoderate different worker, unloading boxes astatine the rear of a Publix supermarket. But according to North Miami police, Lenny Cesar Gonzalez wasn’t determination to help. He was determination to bargain — again.

The 45-year-old antheral is facing a agelong database of charges aft investigators accidental helium repeatedly targeted Publix supermarkets crossed the area, posing arsenic an worker to swipe cases of high-end vino from the loading docks.

His apprehension connected May 14 was caught connected camera, bringing to an extremity what North Miami constabulary described arsenic a months-long signifier of thefts.

Officers accidental Gonzalez was liable for a drawstring of astir identical incidents dating backmost to astatine slightest March, slipping past workers and information portion helping himself to bottles worthy hundreds of dollars.

Video obtained exclusively by Local 10 News connected Wednesday shows Gonzalez astatine a Publix rear loading dock, moving among staffers arsenic they unloaded pallets astatine the store located astatine 12800 Biscayne Blvd.

While others worked, Gonzalez is seen cautiously selecting cases of vino and rolling them distant earlier fleeing the scene.

Police accidental Gonzalez repeatedly struck aggregate Publix stores, astatine times stealing up to $800 worthy of vino successful a azygous visit. Investigators allege helium had a peculiar sensation for Merlot, grabbing aggregate bottles astatine erstwhile from the North Miami location.

Detectives yet acceptable up surveillance and were waiting for him connected May 14, erstwhile helium returned to yet different Publix located astatine 12855 Northeast Sixth Avenue earlier getting into an statement with the store’s manager.

Body camera footage shows officers confronting Gonzalez astatine the loading dock.

“Turn around. Face the wall. Put the telephone down,” an NMPD serviceman tin beryllium heard saying arsenic Gonzalez appears confused. “Come on, are you serious?” Gonzalez responds successful disbelief earlier being handcuffed.

But constabulary accidental there’s thing confusing astir the charges helium present faces.

Jail records amusement Gonzalez has been charged successful astatine slightest 3 abstracted cases.

The charges see aggregate counts of expansive theft successful the 3rd degree, burglary of an occupied structure, dealing successful stolen spot and petit theft with anterior convictions.

Each of the cases follows a akin pattern, according to tribunal filings: Gonzalez would get astatine a Publix loading dock, blend successful with staff, and locomotion distant with bottles oregon cases of vino — sometimes returning to the aforesaid determination days oregon weeks aboriginal to repetition the crime.

In 1 instance, constabulary said helium stole much than 20 items implicit a 30-day play from antithetic Publix locations, with surveillance footage utilized to link the incidents.

“The suspect is simply a known shoplifter of respective businesses successful the country and was capable to beryllium identified by these cases, and different interactions with the defendant,” constabulary wrote successful the report.

They besides said Gonzalez made a confession that was redacted successful the publically released report.

Gonzalez remained successful custody astatine the Metrowest Detention Center, wherever his enslaved is listed arsenic “to beryllium set” arsenic of Wednesday evening.

North Miami constabulary said the probe is inactive ongoing and much charges could beryllium filed. They’re besides urging different supermarkets successful the portion to cheque their surveillance footage successful lawsuit they judge Gonzalez struck astatine further locations.

Anyone with accusation connected the lawsuit oregon fishy is urged to telephone NMPD oregon Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers astatine 305-471-8477.

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