Affidavit offers new insight into arrest of man accused of bringing AR-15, knives to PBIA

The man accused of bringing a loaded AR-15 rifle and multiple knives into a restricted area of Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA) did not show up for his first appearance Wednesday morning.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), Michael Rodrigues was arrested the previous morning on counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, trespassing in the operational area of an airport, and possession of cocaine.

While Rodrigues, 41, was not present in court on Wednesday, his lawyers were there to represent him. The judge revoked the bond from a previous arrest and set his bond in this case at $1,040,000.

The probable cause affidavit for Rodrigues was first seen on video surveillance shortly after 5 a.m. on Tuesday when his rental car stopped on the car loop near the rental area. After pulling up to several crosswalks and stopping, and at one point asking an employee when the first arrivals touched down, Rodrigues proceeded onto a restricted, employee-only parking lot.

Read more: CBS-12 (West Palm Beach, FL)