77-Year-Old In Hospital After Break-in in Holiday

A 77-year-old Holiday resident beaten during a break-in at his home this week was in serious but stable condition in a hospital Wednesday night.

The man, who lives on Ash Court in the Forest Hills subdivision, was taken to a Tampa Bay area hospital Tuesday, where he was diagnosed to have head trauma, hand fractures and lacerations on his head and arms.

Later that day, Pedro Antonio Ortiz, 42, of Tarpon Springs, was arrested by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and accused of breaking into the house, beating the man and stealing his car and belongings. Ortiz told a Pasco detective was accompanied during the break-in by a partner, who was not named in the Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit.

Around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Ortiz entered the victim’s home with his partner by going through an unlocked “Florida Room” and opening a window into the kitchen, according to an incident report.

The victim told detectives he was sleeping in his bed when he was beaten with a blunt object by a man, according to an incident report. Detectives found blood on the pillow cases and sheets of the bed  and blood spatter on the walls, ceiling and T.V. of the bedroom as well as a blood trail leading to the bedroom closet and the bathroom, living room and kitchen.

The victim’s wrist watch, a wallet and a large sum of money were taken in the attack.

Ortiz told a detective he and his partner entered the home and beat the victim, according to an arrest report.

When the victim went outside the home to call 911 from his neighbor’s home, he noticed his 2006 Saturn four-door sedan was gone.

The victim was airlifted to the hospital Tuesday and diagnosed to be in critical condition due to be his injuries. His condition Wednesday night was listed as serious but stable.

Within two hours of the crime, the Tarpon Springs Police Department found the victim’s vehicle behind Ortiz’s home.

Ortiz was arrested at 11 a.m. Tuesday.   

Ortiz was charged with home invasion robbery, aggravated battery on a person over 65 and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He has a criminal history, according to the arrest report. His bond is set at $210,000.