Florida man charged in sexual battery of runaway teen, police say | FOX 35 Orlando
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Florida man charged in sexual battery of runaway teen, police say

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Published  February 1, 2025 12:44pm EST
Volusia County
FOX 35 Orlando

The Brief

    • Police said a Florida man has been charged with the sexual battery of a runaway teen.
    • The DeLand Police Department said it arrested recently Carlos A. Ortiz, 32, for sexual battery and failing to deliver leased equipment.
    • Records show Ortiz is being held at the Volusia County Jail without bond.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Police said a Florida man has been charged with the sexual battery of a runaway teen.

The DeLand Police Department said it arrested Carlos A. Ortiz, 32, for sexual battery and failing to deliver leased equipment.

Records show Ortiz is being held without bond.

Police said Carlos A. Ortiz was arrested and charged with sexual battery after having sex with a runaway girl. (Credit: DeLand Police Department)

Missing teenager

The backstory:

The Deland Police Department said it flagged a teen girl as missing on Monday, Jan. 27, in the DeLand area.

The next day, around 10:40 p.m., officers said they came in contact with the teen while responding to a report of a suspicious incident. 

Police said they later determined the girl to have been the runaway teen. However, at the time, officers stated they were unable to verify the teen's identity, as she provided a false name, and they were unable to legally detain her. 

Police conduct investigation

Timeline:

The Deland Police Department said it found the teen on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in Chess Park.

Police said the girl told officers she had been sexually battered by the suspect, Ortiz.

Reports show that detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division quickly located Ortiz and took him into custody. He then was booked into the Volusia County Jail.

During the investigation, detectives stated they learned the teen had communicated with another individual through a dating platform and misrepresented her age. Officials said the man contacted police, but the teen ran away from his home before officers arrived.

Due to the nature of the case, officials said they contacted the Department of Children and Families, who determined the teen's home was unsuitable and placed her in state custody. 

What's next:

Police stated the investigation remains active, and further details will be released when available.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and the DeLand Police Department.

Volusia CountyDeLandCrime and Public Safety