Jul 21, 2008 4:20 pm US/Eastern
Police ID Body Found In Sports Bar's Air Vent
Body May Have Been There For 2 Days
HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) ―
Hollywood police have identified the body of a man found in an air vent of a popular sports bar.
It's that of Benjamin Rodriguez, 46, who police suspect had intended to rob the All-Star Sports Club, located at 1510 State Road 7.
Police were originally called to the bar on Thursday after when the owner reported a burglary. He was suspicious after he noticed broken ceiling tiles on the floor but he was surprised because nothing in the restaurant was missing.
Then on Saturday, employees smelled a foul odor and saw blood on the floor. They called 911 and fire rescue personnel found Rodriguez's body in an air conditioning vent.
Police said it appears Rodriguez, at 5'7'' and 180 pounds, entered the metal vent from the roof and became lodged to the point where he could not breathe and died.
"Breaking into a business isn't that uncommon. Having people get stuck isn't that uncommon, this is probably the first person that was actually found deceased that I can remember," said Hollywood Police spokesman Manny Marino.
Police are investigating if Rodriguez was responsible for Thursday's break in.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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