Putnam County man arrested twice in 18 hours for robbery and assault

Diego Rodriguez-Ordonez, a 24-year-old resident of Brewster, New York, was arrested twice within an 18-hour period on Wednesday. The first incident occurred at approximately 3:05 a.m. at a Sinclair gas station in the Town of Kent, where he allegedly assaulted a clerk during a robbery and was also charged with felony criminal mischief related to a nearby bank.

His second arrest took place at approximately 9:09 p.m. at the Southeast train station following a report of forcible touching involving a female passenger. During this encounter, Rodriguez-Ordonez allegedly resisted arrest, leading deputies to deploy a Taser. He faces multiple charges, including robbery, assault, forcible touching, and obstructing governmental administration.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Rodriguez-Ordonez is in the United States illegally. He was first encountered by Border Patrol in Texas in 2018 and was released from ICE custody in March 2021. Authorities noted he has an extensive criminal record including 17 prior arrests and convictions for various offenses such as sex offenses, burglary, and fraud.