Alleged Armed Robbery at Motel May Be Gang-Related

A 26-year-old man was allegedly robbed at gunpoint in an East Haven motel room Wednesday by a group of men the victim identified as Latin King gang members, according to a police report.

Alexis Ortiz, who reportedly had a red scrape mark on his face when police arrived, told police he was meeting a girl at the Quality Inn on Frontage Road at about 5 p.m. when four to six Hispanic males – two with handguns – entered his room and allegedly assaulted him, according to the report.

The report says that after an automatic pistol was pointed at Ortiz’s head, the New Haven resident gave up his cell phone, necklace and wallet, and the suspects left the motel grounds via a car, possibly a green four-door Acura that police later observed on the motel’s surveillance camera.

According to the report, Ortiz knew one of the suspects, who he identified only as “Ricky.” Ricky, Ortiz told police, had allegedly been robbed previously in New Haven and came to the motel because he thought Ortiz assisted in that robbery.

The report said that investigation into motel records found that Ortiz had been renting rooms at the Quality Inn since June 1. When asked for what reason was he using the motel when he had a home in New Haven, the report says Ortiz gave many answers, including to use the pool, meet a girl and to remain safe.

Ortiz gave descriptions of two suspects to police. The report describes “Suspect #1” as a light-skinned Hispanic male, about 24 years old, 5’6” in height, about 170 pounds and having a thin mustache. The report describes “Suspect #2” as a dark-skinned Hispanic male, about 30 years old, 5’9” in height, about 300 to 350 pounds, having a thin beard and mustache, a tattoo on his right arm and walking with a slight limp.