Burglary suspect tied to Christmas Eve shooting

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HOMEOWNERS WRESTLE WITH NAKED INTRUDER

A suspect has been jailed on a rake of felony and misdemeanor charges after he allegedly shot a man in the face in Pearsall and burglarized a home in Derby on Christmas Eve.

Officers were dispatched to Power Plant Road in Pearsall on December 24 to investigate an apparent gunshot assault on a local man. The Frio County Sheriff’s Office has since confirmed that the gunshot victim was able to identify his attacker.

The suspect in the case was later found trespassing in a residence in Derby, where he was allegedly taking a shower.

Frio County deputies were dispatched to Derby in response to a call regarding suspicious behavior by men roaming the small community shortly before 11 p.m. The caller informed emergency dispatchers that one of the men had a firearm.

Responding deputies searched the roadside township and did not find any suspicious activity, according to a report on the case.

A short time later a call was made about an active burglary, and deputies were on scene within minutes to find that homeowners had wrestled with a naked man and brought him to ground.

The suspect has since been identified as 36-year-old Joe Ortiz, a resident of Kyle, Texas.

Prior to the burglary, deputies reported that they had seen Ortiz sitting in a maroon Chevrolet pickup truck. At the time, Ortiz claimed the vehicle was his and that he was parked in front of his own house.

Deputies later learned Ortiz had stolen the truck from the homeowners. Upon examining the vehicle, the officers found a used syringe and property that had been stolen from the residence.

The homeowners reported to officers that they had found signs of tampering on their front door and, hearing sounds of an intruder, had gone into their home to discover Ortiz showering.

Deputies say Ortiz was under the influence of narcotics, was combative and used obscene language. They also reported that he was adamant that his name was Francisco Solis and that he was a resident of Dilley.

Ortiz was transported to the Frio County Jail, where he reportedly began threatening the life of the arresting deputy.

“We did not know at the time of the burglary that he was a suspect in the shooting that had occurred in Pearsall,” Frio County Chief Deputy Peter Salinas said. “It was not until we brought him back to the jail that we learned he had allegedly shot another man in the face.”

Ortiz faces two Class A misdemeanor charges for assault causing bodily injury; a second-degree felony for burglary of a habitation; a Class A misdemeanor for burglary of a vehicle; a Class B misdemeanor for failure to identify by giving false information; and a state jail felony for terroristic threats against a peace officer.

The  investigation into the Dec. 24 shooting remains underway. Charges related to the firearm assault are pending.