The short version
- Primera Hora reported that on Oct. 29 a Caguas judge found probable cause against Elysaul E. Ortiz Rodríguez for aggravated breaking and entering, illegal appropriation of a vehicle and lesser illegal appropriation
- Telemundo Puerto Rico reported the charges filed include escalamiento and illegal appropriation as a lesser offense after the Oct. 27 incident in Aguas Buenas
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that Gongo spotted the car on PR-173, followed it and performed a citizen's arrest before handing the suspect to police
- All three outlets reported the preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10
Judge orders detention
A Caguas judge found probable cause on the night of Oct. 29 to arrest Elysaul E. Ortiz Rodríguez, 36, on charges of escalamiento agravado, apropiación ilegal de un vehículo and apropiación ilegal in its lesser degree, Primera Hora reported. The man could not post the $15,000 bail set by the court and was sent to the Bayamón Correctional Complex. The preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 10.
The case stems from events on Oct. 27. José L. Morales Berríos, known as Gongo Fishing, was driving on PR-173 toward his home in the Santa Clara sector of Sumidero barrio in Aguas Buenas when he saw a Toyota Tercel that belonged to his father being driven by an unknown person, according to the police investigation cited by Primera Hora.
Also on PuertoRico.com: Caguas travel guide
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
A post shared by José Gongo Morales (@gongo_fishing_pr)
The source's own post, quoted as published. Not verified by PuertoRico.com. View post
Cuando iba camino a casa, vi que una persona iba en el auto de mi papá
Our translation: When I was on my way home, I saw that a person was in my dad's car
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Citizen's arrest
Morales Berríos called his father, who confirmed he was not using the car. He then turned around, followed the vehicle, stopped it and took the driver into custody until police arrived, Metro Puerto Rico reported. The influencer said he and his father are fine and thanked police for their quick response.
Telemundo Puerto Rico reported that the vehicle was a 1994 green Toyota Tercel. The suspect was identified as Ely Saul Enrique Ortiz Rodríguez. He was taken to the Caguas police station. Agents from the Stolen Vehicles Division of the Criminal Investigation Corps in Caguas are handling the case.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree on the date and time of the incident (Oct. 27 at about 7 p.m.), the location (PR-173 in Aguas Buenas), the make of the car (Toyota Tercel), the identity and age of the suspect (Elysaul/Ely Saul Enrique Ortiz Rodríguez, 36), the $15,000 bail he could not post, and the preliminary hearing date of Nov. 10. Primera Hora lists three specific charges including escalamiento agravado while Telemundo refers to escalamiento and lesser illegal appropriation. Metro focuses on Gongo's account and the citizen's arrest but does not detail the exact charges. Primera Hora and Telemundo report the court outcome on Oct. 29; Metro published on Oct. 28 before charges were formally filed.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state whether the suspect has a lawyer, what his version of events is, the exact model year or color of the car as reported by each outlet, whether anything was stolen from the vehicle beyond its unauthorized use, or what the outcome of the Nov. 10 preliminary hearing might be. No information is given on the father's full name or his statement beyond confirming he was not using the car.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official VIDEO: Gongo Fishing logra detener hurto del carro de su padre
- Reporting A la cárcel hombre que arrestó Gongo por el hurto del auto de su padre
- Reporting Le radican cargos a sujeto que le tumbó el carro al papá de “Gongo”
- Reporting VIDEO: Gongo Fishing logra detener hurto del carro de su padre
How we checked this
Primera Hora and Telemundo reported the court hearing and charges while Metro Puerto Rico carried Gongo's direct statements and video. The exact wording of all charges rests on Primera Hora. All three outlets described the same core sequence of events on Oct. 27 in Aguas Buenas.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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