Arrest made in Phila Street assault incident
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> An arrest was made stemming from the previously reported assault that took place in the area of Phila Street and Nelson Avenue. The victim there was a 35 year-old female.
Information that developed late Wednesday led to the arrest on Thursday of Francisco J. OrtegaHernandez, 26, a resident of Jalisco, Mexico.
On Sunday, the Saratoga Springs Police Department took a call for an assault that occurred late the previous day. The caller/ victim was a 35-year-old woman who is a city resident.
The caller informed the initial responding officer that about 11 p.m. on Saturday night, she had left the Caroline/Putnam Street area on foot, traveling south on Putnam Street and then eastbound on Phila Street.
The victim said she was in the area of Phila Street and Nelson Avenue when she heard a bicyclist approaching from behind, and she stopped. The bicyclist, who was a male, stopped next to her and got off the bike.
The unknown male then proceeded to grab the victim around the head and neck. The victim was able to break the male’s hold and yell for assistance. The unknown male then released the victim and quickly left on the bicycle in an unknown direction.
The caller received some minor injury, but did not require medical attention.
Subsequent information led to Ortega being a person of interest in the case; however initial attempts to find him were unsuccessful. Early Thursday, additional investigation revealed that Ortega had left the Saratoga area and gone to the Albany Airport, where he was slated to board a flight to Mexico.
Saratoga Springs Police Department investigators coordinated with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office to locate Ortega at the airport prior to departure.
Subsequently Ortega was transported back to the Saratoga Springs Police Department where he was formally
charged with unlawful imprisonment first degree, a felony, criminal obstruction of breathing, and stalking in the third degree, both felonies.
Ortega is a Mexican citizen who is here legally on a H2B work visa. Ortega has been in the United States since June of this year and was properly credentialed to be upon NYRA property.
Arraignment on these charges is pending.