2 Arrested In Attempted Robbery Of Off-Duty Officer And GTA Hours After Jail Release
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Two men released from Orange County Jail Wednesday are back behind bars on suspicion of attempted robbery an off-duty Santa Ana police officer and grand theft auto, among other charges.
Jose Manuel Ortiz, 35, of Winnetka, and Ryan Irwin Tischer, 37, of Anaheim, were released at approximately 7:20 p.m., befriended one another and stole a 1994 Ford van together in the 1000 block of W. 2nd street hours later, according to Santa Ana police.
Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna says the suspects then returned to an area between the O.C. Sheriff's Department and the SAPD in the stolen van, entered a parking structure and broke into a SAPD jailer's vehicle, stealing items such as as a flashlight and keychain.
Ortiz is also accused of attempting to rob an off-duty officer of his phone in the parking structure at approximately 12:10 a.m.
Police say the officer hung up from his phone conversation as Ortiz charged him, cursing profanities and demanding the device. The officer reportedly defended himself and took Ortiz into custody while Tischer remained in the area of the stolen van.
The booking officer who was collecting Ortiz's property identified items that belonged to him, last seen in his personal vehicle parked in the parking lot, in Ortiz's possession.
Officers tracked down the stolen van, where witnesses, who were handing out food to recently released inmates, pointed to Tischer as one of two men who parked the vehicle there, Bertagna said.
Tischer, who was standing next to the stolen van, was arrested.
The men were booked into SAPD jail for grand theft auto, taking vehicle without owner's permission and possession of stolen property.
Ortiz was also booked for attempted robbery and vehicle theft with a prior and was being held on $50,000 bail, according to jail records.
Tischer was being held without bail on a parole hold.
Jail records show Ortiz had been arrested Sunday and was released when prosecutors declined to file charges, while Tischer was arrested Sept. 18 and was released when a warrant was recalled.
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