Charlotte sexual assault suspect now charged in 3 kidnappings, police say
After collecting evidence from a hospital, police have charged a man in connection with two sexual assaults in Charlotte and three attempted kidnappings, including one in Huntersville.
On Saturday, officers arrested Kelvin Rene Mejia Ortiz, 31, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police records. Police released details of his charges on Monday.
Earlier Saturday, CMPD officials issued a public warning and photo of a suspect car involved in a sexual assaults and abductions at gun-point. Police described a silver Jeep, saying the driver intimidated two victims with a weapon and forced them to leave with him.
Wearing a dark-colored hoodie and dark pants, Ortiz targeted the women near Interstate 77 in southwestern Charlotte, according to a Saturday Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department news release.
Those assaults happened near Archdale Road, Nations Ford Road or East Arrowood Road. Earlier assaults happened in the same area, in CMPD’s Westover Division and in Huntersville, according to the news release.
The most recent incident was reported Saturday morning. Others happened last week, and on Sept. 1 and Aug. 29, according to the news release.
Police warned the public about Ortiz during a news conference at 5 p.m. Saturday. Around 7:30 p.m Saturday, officers found him in CMPD’s Steele Creek Division, CMPD wrote in a post late Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“We have multiple cases we’re looking at where they were either classified slightly differently, or more generic description,” CMPD Lt. Jim Ivie said Saturday. “And so we’re going and looking back to see how many cases we might have.”
Anyone with information about the case or suspect can call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or go to charlottecrimestoppers.com/.
This story was originally published September 9, 2023 at 6:59 PM.
