Robber kidnapped man at gas station in search of Apple ID for iPhone, US cops say

According to Ortiz’s arrest report, the victim had the valuables with him because he was ‘having trouble with his wife’. She also was the only one who had the iPhone’s Apple ID information, the report said. — Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash

It started as a robbery, deputies say: 19-year-old Yandel Eliel Ortiz approached a man who was gassing up a Ford Explorer at a RaceTrac on Alafaya Trail on Thursday afternoon, held him at gunpoint, fired a shot through the SUV’s windshield and demanded his belongings.

But when the victim handed over a new iPhone 14 – but was unable to provide the Apple ID – Ortiz kidnapped the man, forcing him to drive them to the victim’s home in search of the digital credentials, an arrest report said.

Ortiz ultimately was arrested on charges of carjacking, kidnapping, aggravated assault, criminal mischief and discharging a firearm in public, records show.

The victim told investigators he pulled into the gas station at 1819 N. Alafaya Trial about 2pm Tuesday and parked at a pump. That’s when he said Ortiz approached him brandishing the gun.

After ordering the victim into the Explorer, Ortiz exclaimed “I’m not playing” as he fired a round into the windshield, the victim told detectives. In addition to the phone, the victim said he gave Ortiz a gold chain, diamond earrings, an engagement ring and a wedding band.

According to Ortiz’s arrest report, the victim had the valuables with him because he was “having trouble with his wife”. She also was the only one who had the iPhone’s Apple ID information, the report said.

Ortiz ordered the victim to drive them to his home, while Ortiz continued ransacking the SUV, the report said. Upon arriving at home, the victim went inside with Ortiz’s permission, then locked the doors, told his family to go upstairs and called law enforcement.

Ortiz briefly knocked at the front door before fleeing in the Explorer, the report said.

When detectives tracked down Ortiz, he gave an “inconsistent” account of the incident, according to the report, claiming the SUV’s driver beckoned him to the car, held him at gunpoint, threatened to rape him – and gave him his belongings “for an unknown reason.”

Ortiz was being held without bail at the Orange County Jail on Wednesday. – Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service