A federal magistrate judge, María Bauzá Almonte, authorized the arrest of Juan Morales Castro, 57, in connection with the robbery of a Banco Popular branch on Avenida Las Cumbres in Guaynabo last Friday. The case was filed by an FBI agent, whose sworn statement included photos of the suspect, items seized from him, and the threatening note allegedly handed to a bank employee. The note read: "Give me all the money from the register. Stay calm and don't say a word or you or someone will get hurt or killed.
I am armed. Just cooperate." Security cameras captured Morales Castro's face. The bank employee handed over an envelope containing $50 and a security device with pink dye. Guaynabo Municipal Police officers spotted Morales Castro shortly after leaving the bank amid a cloud of dark pink smoke.
Upon arrest, agents seized a Social Security card in his name, a knife, a $20 bill stained with dark pink ink, and an electoral ID card. The bank employee said she felt intimidated, and the complaint states Morales Castro admitted to police that he robbed the bank and was the person in the photo. Federal prosecutors must now present the case at a preliminary hearing unless a grand jury indictment is issued first.