Suspect Had Numerous Shaved Keys In His Possession
WATSONVILLE—Authorities with the Watsonville Police Department arrested 35-year-old Watsonville resident Jose Ortiz as he was found to be in possession of Stolen vehicles.
On Saturday, April 12 at 5 p.m., Officers with the Watsonville Police Department responded to a call from a witness, who stated they located a possible recent stolen vehicle. While Officers were en-route to the call they received an update that the car was being driven away by the suspect.
Officers quickly fanned out and began to search for the vehicle in the area of Freedom Boulevard. They found it in a shopping Center parking lot on Freedom Boulevard. The first responding officer saw Ortiz exit the vehicle and get into another Honda Accord that was parked next the first stolen car.
Ortiz was able to start the second vehicle with a shaved key that is commonly used to steal cars. As other officers arrived, The Watsonville Police were able to take Ortiz into custody without incident.
“We were able to connect Ortiz to another case involving a stolen vehicle in a separate business parking lot.” Watsonville Police Sergeant Eric Montalbo wrote in a press release, “We were able to solve three stolen vehicle cases with this one arrest.”
Investigators learned that the first Honda in this case was stolen early that day from an address in South County. Officers also learned upon a search of Ortiz that he was in possession of numerous shaved keys.
Ortiz, a known gang member, was also on probation for another vehicle theft that he committed in November. He was transported to the Santa Cruz County jail and charged with numerous stolen vehicle charges. His bail as been set at $10,000.00. His other recent arrests include November charges for possession of drugs and stolen property, and failure to appear in court, a March arrest of possession of a stun gun and tear gas, and another in March for possession of burglary tools.
