patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Antonio Ortiz

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Christmas Eve Beating Death Headed to Trial

Judge finds enough evidence for Antonio Ortiz to face trial in killing of Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa last year in Easton.

A man accused in a deadly beating last Christmas Eve in Easton is headed for trial, according to published reports. Antonio Ortiz, 33, of the 400 block of Northampton St., is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa. Police say a fight between the two men on Northampton Street last December 24 led to Ruiz-Avelizapa being knocked out. He never regained consciouness, and died in January. In court on Thursday, Senior District Judge James Stocklas ruled there was enough evidence against Ortiz to take the case to Northampton County Court, WFMZ reported. Police have given this account of what happened: Officers responded to the 400 block of Northampton Street just before 1 a.m. December 24 after getting a report that …

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Grand Jury Findings, Facebook Sex Page Top Local News

Other top headlines include Easton's new city hall groundbreaking and charges filed in Christmas Eve killing.

A Northampton County grand jury has ruled that there's not enough evidence to file homicide charges in the death of a Bethlehem man last year. The grand jury said this week that Matthew Kelly "participated voluntarily in his own death" when he tried to rob Brian Simmons.  Easton police are investigating "Exposing Easton Hoes," a now-defunct Facebook page claiming to chronicle the sexual exploits of young women from Easton. Easton police filed homicide charges in the case of a man who was beaten to death Christmas Eve on Northampton Street. Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa, 52, was beaten unconscious on Dec. 24, 2012, and never recovered. He died in January, and his death was ruled a homicide. State and city officials gathered Friday in downtown …

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Man Charged in Christmas Eve Killing

Antonio Ortiz is accused of deadly assault on Northampton Street last year.

Easton police have filed homicide charges in the case of a man who was beaten to death Christmas Eve on Northampton Street. Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa, 52, was beaten unconscious on Dec. 24, 2012, and never recovered. He died in January, and his death was ruled a homicide earlier this month. On Thursday, Antonio Ortiz—who had already been charged with aggravated assault—learned he'd be facing a criminal homicide charge as well. Ortiz, 34, of Easton, was arraigned before senior District Judge James Stocklas. He was being held without bail in Northampton County Prison. According to court records: Police responded to the 400 block of Northampton Street just before 1 a.m. after getting a report that one man had knocked another man unconscious. They…

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Christmas Eve Beating Ruled a Homicide

Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa died in January after assault in December in downtown Easton.

Northampton County's coroner has ruled the death of a man beaten unconcious in Easton on Christmas Eve a homicide, according to published reports. Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa, 52, died in January following the attack on the 400 block of Northampton Street. On Friday, Coroner Zachary Lysek ruled the death a homicide, the Morning Call reports. Lysek's ruling makes Ruiz-Avelizapa's death the sixth recorded homicide in Easton for 2012. It's the most the city has seen since at least 1970. Antonio Ortiz, 33, of 462 Northampton St., is accused of assaulting Ruiz-Avelizapa. He has been charged with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, but hasn't yet been charged with criminal homicide. According to court records: Police …

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

No Answers Yet on Christmas Eve Beating Death

After autopsy, coroner says more tests needed in death of man who died following December assault.

Northampton County's coroner says he's not yet ready to release the cause and manner of death of a man who died following a fight in Easton on Christmas Eve. Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa was beaten unconscious on the 400 block of Northampton Street last month, and died Monday at Easton Hospital, having never regained consciousness.  An autopsy was performed Wednesday on Ruiz-Avelizapa, coroner Zach Lysek said, but added results are pending additional tests.  Easton police say they found Ruiz-Avelizapa, 52, unconscious in the street just before 1 a.m. on December 24. Witnesses told police they saw Antonio Ortiz assault Ruiz-Avelizapa and knock him to the ground. Police say Ortiz initially said he had no contact with Ruiz-Avelizapa, but later told …

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Man Dies After Christmas Eve Beating

Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa, 52, never recovered after being assaulted last month in Easton.

Christmas Eve Beating Victim Dies

Police, coroner, DA investigating fight between two men on Northampton Street.

A man who was beaten unconscious in downtown Easton on Christmas Eve has died of his injuries, city police said. Andres Ruiz-Avelizapa never regained consciousness and died Monday afternoon, according to police Lt. Matthew Gerould.  Ruiz-Avelizapa had been hospitalized since the early morning hours of Dec. 24, when he was allegedly assaulted by Antonio Ortiz on the 400 block of Northampton Street.  Ortiz, 33, of 462 Northampton St., had been charged with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.  Police are working with the Northampton County District Attorney and Coroner to determine what the next step is. "We're still investigating, and part of that is autopsy," Gerould said.  If prosecutors decide to file homicide …

Monday, December 24, 2012

Man, 33, Charged with Aggravated Assault

The following information was supplied by Easton police. Arrests do not indicate a conviction.

  A 33-year-old Easton man is in custody on charges of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, Easton police said. Antonio Ortiz, of 462 Northampton St., was arraigned and sent to Northampton County prison under $50,000 bail. According to a release, police were called to the 400 block of Northampton Street at 12:45 a.m. Monday on a report that a man was unresponsive. The man was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.  Easton police did not name the man taken to the hospital. No additional details were provided.

Got a Hot Tip?