STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 In July 2023, a Tompkinsville man accused of robbing his local deli was relieved of the top charges in the case after a store worker had second thoughts on the witness stand. <\/p>\n
Months later, the same defendant was arrested again for an alleged robbery incident at a different deli in his neighborhood. He pleaded guilty in that case and did four months in jail. <\/p>\n
The same defendant \u2014 Jorgie Ortiz, 31, of Victory Boulevard in Tompkinsville \u2014 has since been arrested six more times.<\/p>\n
Ortiz, who is currently facing charges including grand larceny, misdemeanor assault and harassment, is due back in court Dec. 11, court records show. <\/p>\n
His attorney declined to comment. <\/p>\n
\u201824 grand larceny case <\/p>\n
Among Ortiz\u2019 five open cases in Criminal Court, two involve allegations of domestic violence. In one case, he\u2019s accused of assaulting a police officer. <\/p>\n
The sixth open case involves felony charges and is being heard in state Supreme Court, St. George. <\/p>\n
In the felony incident, Ortiz is accused of stealing a car in New Brighton and crashing it 10 minutes later on Victory Boulevard in neighboring Tompkinsville, near his listed home address. A woman in another vehicle was injured in the crash, according to a criminal complaint.<\/p>\n
Judge Alexander B. Jeong adjourned that case to Jan. 21 in state Supreme Court, St. George, records show. <\/p>\n
Armed brawl with deli workers <\/p>\n
In 2023, Ortiz was indicted on robbery charges after brawling with deli workers in front of other customers inside 49 Victory Blvd. He said they refused him store credit. <\/p>\n
A worker, whose family owns the business, would later testify that Ortiz already owed them money and they could no longer extend the courtesy. <\/p>\n
At trial, jurors watched surveillance footage showing the defendant enter the store brandishing a pair of metal nunchucks, then attempt to walk out with a yogurt cup. <\/p>\n
A young man working the counter and his father chased after Ortiz as things became violent near the front entrance as witnesses looked on. The defense disputed the robbery charge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a case about yogurt,\u201d submitted defense attorney John Signoriello. \u201cA drunk young man who tries to take a yogurt. A $2.99 cup of yogurt. Who was it that truly had the intent to hurt someone?\u201d<\/p>\n
Following Ortiz\u2019 arrest in that case, authorities said he also head-butted a male police officer in the face while he was being processed at the 120th Precinct stationhouse.<\/p>\n
Witness had second thoughts<\/p>\n