Brazen Kennewick mall parking lot robbery was staged, say police

A Dairy Queen and Orange Julius employee and manager are in jail after staging a robbery in the Columbia Center mall parking lot, say police.

It all started when manager Nadia Rodriguez, 31, and employee Raheem Mayberry, 19, formed a plan to swipe the morning deposit from the Kennewick mall restaurant, Kennewick police said.

Rodriguez carried the money outside in her purse at 10:20 a.m. and Mayberry ran up to her as she crossed the parking lot. He pushed her to the ground and snatched the purse away.

When police watched the video, they began to suspect the two were working together and had staged the attack. As they questioned Rodriguez, they confirmed their suspicions, said police.

Officers soon caught up with Mayberry and recovered the money.

Rodriguez and Mayberry were booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of second-degree theft. Rodriguez faces an additional count of false reporting.

This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 12:50 PM.