Local

Suspect in Metro PCS robbery writes letter of apology

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Kissimmee police officers released the identity of a man arrested on armed robbery charges of a Metro PCS store on East Vine Street in Kissimmee.

Officers said Efrain Lopez walked inside the store on Sunday, approached the clerk with his hand in his pocket and said, "Give me the money."

The clerk said he did not see a gun, but assumed that Lopez had one in his pocket.

Officers said Lopez fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash.  No one inside the store was injured during the incident.

Investigators said they found Lopez next door at the Flamingo Inn in room 118, where a woman was staying, police said.

"I don't know how he got in there," the woman, who didn't want to be identified, told WFTV. "They asked me if they could open the door because it's in my name and I told them, 'Yeah, no problem.'"

Detectives said Lopez, 34, was cooperative and he voluntarily wrote an apology letter to the clerks at Metro PCS.

Lopez was charged with robbery with a firearm, grand theft, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.  He was booked into the Osceola County Jail on $2,000 bail.