Four Arrested for Home Invasion Robbery Attempt

(March 20, 2023)- On March 20, 2023, at approximately 1:20 a.m., officers from the Cape Coral Police Department responded to a call for service at 500-Block of SE 4th Terrace, Cape Coral, Lee County, Florida, in reference to a prowler.  

The call notes stated the reporting party was house-sitting for a friend and noticed on the surveillance video that several subjects were outside the residence wearing ski masks and appeared armed with firearms. 

Officers on the scene confronted three subjects dressed in all black who were wearing ski masks to conceal their faces. These three subjects were attempting to hide near the entryway to a residence. They were later identified as Joshua Ethan Ortiz-Santiago (W/M 8-4-1988, 2220 NW 4th Terrace), Christian Perkins (W/M 5-5-2004, 2220 NW 4th Terrace), and Angel Aramis Santana (W/M 8-4-1996, 1233 NW 20th Street).

Mr. Santana was armed with two firearms, and Mr. Ortiz-Santiago had one firearm. All three subjects were immediately detained. Upon search for further weapons, Officers located handcuffs, a holster, handcuff keys, and a radio/walkie-talkie on Mr. Santana.  Officers also located zip ties on Mr. Perkins.

After locating the radio/walkie-talkie on Mr. Santana and not locating a radio on anyone else, Officers believed there might be a fourth person in the area acting as a lookout. Officers canvassed the neighborhood and discovered a Dodge truck in a vacant lot approximately 50 yards away from the incident. Inside Officers located a white female, Valerie Renne Prottsman (W/F 3-30-1999, 4311 SW Santa Barbara Place), hiding inside the truck. 

Ms. Prottsman had a radio matching the one carried by Mr. Santana, and she was then detained. 

Cape Coral Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit responded and took over the investigation.

Near the call location investigators located an additional van utilized by Mr. Santana, Mr. Ortiz-Santiago, and Mr. Perkins that they used to drive to the area. Inside the van were bulletproof vests with “thin-blue line” patches and extra zip ties; this van had no attached license plate. 

The investigation revealed that Mr. Perkins was offered $5,000 by Mr. Santana and Mr. Ortiz- Santiago to commit a robbery with them.

Mr. Ortiz-Santiago stated that Mr. Santana offered him $6,000-7,000 to help him commit a robbery. Mr. Santana told Mr. Ortiz-Santiago that the house they planned to rob the person (victim) inside owed Mr. Santana a lot of money. 

Contact was made with the victim, who was several doors down from the call location and was unaware of the drafted plan. After a lengthy investigation, the victim stated that Mr. Santana was contracted to work, was provided cash and a vehicle, and could not complete the work. The victim took back the vehicle provided to Mr. Santana, which enraged him.

The original call location where Mr. Santana, Mr. Ortiz-Santiago, and Mr. Perkins surrounded was the incorrect target residence. Officers’ speedy response intercepted the robbery from occurring.  

Mr. Santana, Mr. Ortiz-Santiago, Mr. Perkins, and Ms. Prottsman was transported to Lee County Jail. 

Mr. Santana, Mr. Ortiz-Santiago, Mr. Perkins, and Ms. Prottsman were all charged with the following:

* Home Invasion Robbery (Attempt) F.S.S. 812.135(2)(a).

* Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device F.S.S. 943.215.