CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Charges filed against man found in stolen pickup with drugs, gun

Two days ago we reported on the arrest of a man found half-naked in a stolen pickup truck near Highland Park Elementary. When police searched the truck, they found drugs an a gun. Now three felony charges are filed against 25-year-old Ezequiel A. Lopez-Ortiz of Tacoma: Unlawful gun possession, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of drugs with intent to distribute or manufacture. The truck, a 2020 Dodge Ram, had been stolen from the Port of Seattle, according to the charging documents, and partially spray-painted red. Prosecutors also say Lopez-Ortiz has 10 felony convictions in the past 10 years, including three for unlawful gun possession, and seven current warrants from three counties – King, Spokane, and Kittitas. The gun seized from under the driver’s seat in the stolen truck is described as a 9mm SIG Sauer P320 pistol “with fifteen rounds in the magazine and one round in the firing chamber, under the driver’s seat.” Police also found “a backpack behind the driver’s seat containing .45 caliber bullets and an AR15 style magazine with 5.56 caliber bullets.” The drugs described in the previous report are what the charging documents list – cocaine, meth in baggies, and more than 100 suspected “blues” (fentanyl pills). Prosecutors are asking that bail for Lopez-Ortiz be set at $50,000 but as of the filing, there hadn’t been a bail decision yet because Lopez-Ortiz had been refusing to appear in court.

Auntie December 2, 2022 (8:39 pm)

I’m sure whichever mamby-pamby judge has the bail hearing will release him on his own recognizance. Surely an upstanding dude like this can be counted on to show up for his next hearing. It’s too bad we don’t have any options for voting these judges out that won’t hold criminals accountable for their actions.

Niko December 2, 2022 (9:28 pm)

Prior illegal gun possession and he’s still out on the street….wild

Meryl December 2, 2022 (9:38 pm)

Very happy to hear this and thank you again WSB. What I don’t understand is the system. He’s had 10 felonies, he has 7 outstanding warrants, now 3 more felonies, and the prosecutors are only asking for 50K in bail? Which is really $5K I think?

Please dont respond with snark about politics. If you know how this works, please explain it to me. Why is this guy even allowed bailed when it’s obvious he won’t show up if let out? Thank you.

wscommuter December 3, 2022 (10:35 am)

Without the hysterical/ignorant hyperbole, $50K is actually about standard for the charges filed in this case, assuming the judge follows the KCPO recommendation. In the real world, bail is not set at $1M for every miscreant who has a bad record. His prior felonies are apparently all low-level felonies (as opposed to violent/sexual offenses, which typically get the really high bails). If he can find someone to post a $5K bond, he could be released. My guess is that he can’t swing that. If he isn’t willing to appear in court, at some point soon, they will forcibly bring him to court, which is never a good look when asking for a lower bail. Likely the judge will do the $50K (and possibly go higher). I get the frustration – he sounds like a real knucklehead who needs to spend some years in prison … the good news is that with his record (each prior feloney bumps his offender score higher = more time in prison) and what he’ll be charged with (“possession with intent to deliver” has the same punishment as actually selling drugs) and a firearm enhancement, he is looking at several years in prison. Probably at least 5; maybe more.

1994 December 2, 2022 (10:00 pm)

Time for Ezequiel A. Lopez-Ortiz to have a nice long stay at the big boy house because he is a naughty, naughty dude and does not need further opportunity to continue being naughty to the rest of us. Unlawful gun possession, drugs, stolen truck, 7 current warrants – who could be more deserving of a long stay at the big boy house?