Cape police arrested three teenagers in connection with an armed robbery Thursday morning at on Northwest 23rd Street.
Jeremiah Benito Ortiz, 16, Mark Anthony Montalvo, 17, and Sebasthian Sierra, 18, were charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery, police said.
The arrests ocurred after Cape police responded to a 911 call of a robbery in progress in the 1000 block of Northwest 23rd St at 12:49 a.m.
Arriving officers were told by the male victim that he and another friend were at the location to meet up with an acquaintance and “hang out.” The victim stated that as he walked in the yard of the vacant home at 1006 N.W. 23rd, he saw three people in black clothing approaching him. As he turned to flee back toward his vehicle, he was tackled from behind by one person and struck with a blunt object in the leg area by a second, officials said. The victim said the subjects were demanding money, and he recognized two of the attackers as Ortiz and Montalvo. The victim said his wallet was taken, and they struck his vehicle with the baseball bat causing damage to the driver’s side taillight area.
Cape police located the three youths at their last known address at 2313 N.W. 10th Ave., about 200 yards from the attack. The suspects were identified and taken into custody.
During interviews with Det. Erica Cunningham and Det. Paul Kaye, Sierra reportedly said that he arranged to purchase marijuana from the victim, and they planned to meet near the vacant home on Northwest 23rd Street. Sierra stated that he convinced Ortiz and Montalvo to participate in a “snatch and grab,” without paying for the drugs, police said, adding he also admitted to striking the vehicle with the baseball bat causing the damage.
Ortiz, Montalvo and Sierra were booked and transported to Lee County Jail.

Source: Cape Coral Police Department