BOISE, Idaho — Boise Police have arrested 26-year-old Javier Ortiz of Ontario, Oregon, in connection with an aggravated assault on the Boise Greenbelt Saturday night.
Ortiz was booked into the Ada County Jail on charges of assault-aggravated (F) and kidnapping-second degree not for ransom (F) following an investigation by Boise police.
Ortiz was arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Ada County Court. You can watch the full hearing below —
According to police, dispatch received a report of someone screaming along the north side of the Boise River Greenbelt near S. Ferguson Street just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 11.
Police say that evidence indicates a woman was walking alone on the path when someone approached her from behind, assaulted her, and pulled her off the path.
Two residents in the area heard the woman screaming and called police. One of those residents went to find out what was happening and found the victim and the suspect, and immediately intervened. The suspect then fled, heading westbound on the Greenbelt.
Officers set a perimeter and began to search the area. At 11:02 p.m., officers located someone matching the suspect's description near Broadway Bridge in Julia Davis Park, and he was taken into custody
The victim was treated for her injuries at the scene and was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
This marks the second violent attack on the Greenbelt in less than a week. On Monday, 25-year-old Jordan Harbst was fatally stabbed while riding a scooter on the pathway.
RELATED | Family remembers Jordan Harbst as ‘one of Boise’s brightest lights’ after Greenbelt killing
Boise Police say they will continue to increase patrols along the Greenbelt and surrounding parks.
Police are reminding the public to:
- Stay alert and aware
- When possible, travel with others
- Know your route and have a backup plan
- Carry your cell phone and make sure it’s charged
- Tell someone where you are going and when you will return
- If you see something concerning, report it to police using Ada County non-emergency dispatch at (208) 377-6790.
- If you see something dangerous or witness a crime in progress, get to a safe location and call 911 immediately.
