“Dressed to Kill”: Gang Fugitive Nabbed in Tense Arrest Above Trenchport Tattoo Parlor

By Clarence Boone

Crime & Public Safety Correspondent

April 23, 2025 | Trenchport, AL 

A high-stakes operation led by Chief Marcus Dawson culminated in the arrest of notorious gang affiliate Nina Rodriguez, alias “Maria Nunez”, after a tense standoff in a second-floor office above a downtown tattoo parlor.

Rodriguez, wanted in connection with multiple gang-related offenses, was taken into custody late Monday afternoon following a silent tactical breach involving three veteran officers and zero shots fired; though tensions nearly boiled over.

Rodriguez, believed to be a ranking member of the "Rejects" gang, arrived at the office dressed in formal attire and high heels, attempting to mask her identity behind wealth-signaling optics. What she carried, however, told a different story: a loaded pistol, a syringe loaded with the street drug “Rainbow Road,” a burner phone, and a concealed gang armband.

Waiting for her inside the office was a well respected local criminal defense attorney who is no stranger to Trenchport's legal and political circuit. Though the defense attorney reportedly welcomed Rodriguez with professional calm, internal police memos confirm she was armed and aware of Rodriguez’s real identity.

The Breach

The arrest unfolded at approximately 4:15 p.m. Chief Dawson, Corporal Trevor Liu, and Detective Hugh Johnson ascended the stairwell of the building and stacked outside the criminal defense attorney's office. Inside, Rodriguez lingered near a cigar display, her hand inside her purse; a pose later assessed as a lethal posture. The criminal defense attorney, meanwhile, had subtly drawn a weapon and kept it leveled from behind her desk.

Without warning, the officers entered.

In a fluid maneuver, Liu executed a non-lethal takedown, kicking Rodriguez's leg and forcing her to the ground. Johnson moved in, securing the suspect with handcuffs while Dawson guarded the criminal defense attorney and prevented escalation or injury.

Rodriguez, initially defiant and combative, was swiftly disarmed. A search revealed not only a loaded firearm and narcotics, but unmistakable gang identifiers that solidified her connection to the ongoing surge in Rejects related activity across Districts 1, 2, and 4.

Attorney Extracted, Questions Remain

While Rodriguez was restrained, Chief Dawson turned his attention to the criminal defense attorney. Despite her proximity to the fugitive and possession of a firearm, The criminal defense attorney cooperated with police and was not detained. Instead, they were escorted from the premises and moved into protection.

Witnesses on the street described the moment as “eerie". They claim it was a fast and wordless handoff between Dawson and the protective detail, who waited across the street in a black car, revolver visible beneath his coat. The same witnesses claimed the mans attire and demeanor made them believe he was a detective.

Rough Ride, Rougher Booking

What followed was anything but standard transport. Sources and reports confirm that during transit, Chief Dawson drove erratically; braking and accelerating to “disorient” the suspect. Rodriguez, lying prone and unrestrained in the backseat, suffered multiple minor impacts during the ride. No medical treatment was required.

At booking jail house cameras showed that Rodriguez’s behavior spiraled further. She refused standard intake procedures and allegedly attempted to knee Detective Johnson during a failed resistance maneuver. Dawson tackled her against a wall to subdue the outburst. Johnson drew his sidearm and regained control.

Charges were read aloud on the spot:

• Compelling Streetgang Membership

• Littering

• Criminal Mischief

• False Name to Law Enforcement

• Fleeing

• Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer

  
  

Total fines: $111,100. Minimum bail: $11,110.

Due to the severity of the charges and continued aggression, Dawson overrode protocol and ordered Rodriguez be placed directly in the Special Housing Unit (SHU). A solitary confinement unit typically reserved for extreme caution holds. She now awaits interrogation under the joint authority of TPD’s Gang Unit and Warden Charlotte Dawson of the Trenchport Correctional Facility.

A Message to the Rejects

Though Rodriguez sits in isolation, investigators warn that her arrest is not the final chapter, but a dangerous turning point. The Rejects gang, already under scrutiny for graffiti attacks, narcotics distribution, and arson attempts, may view her capture as a provocation.

“This wasn’t just a takedown; it was a signal,” said one officer close to the case. “Rodriguez walked into that office thinking she was untouchable. She left in cuffs, alone, and stripped of every illusion she brought in.”

The department is bracing for blowback.

Anyone with information regarding gang retaliation plots, drug activity tied to 'Rainbow Road,' or suspicious gatherings in the wake of Rodriguez's arrest is urged to contact TPD or submit tips anonymously via Crimestoppers for a reward.

Clarence Boone covers public safety, crime, and gang activity for the Trenchport Tribune.