Man connected to downtown OKC riots arrested by OHP following pursuit

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol released dash camera video of a pursuit from March 1st that went through a southwest Oklahoma City neighborhood. The suspect is known to law enforcement for riots that led to the destruction of a business and a police van in downtown Oklahoma City five years ago.

Isael Ortiz, 26, remains in custody at the Oklahoma County Detention Center for the pursuit and faces five connected charges. Oklahoma Department of Corrections records showed Ortiz was released from prison on Nov. 24 for his role in the 2020 downtown Oklahoma City riots.

An OHP Trooper pulled over Ortiz earlier this month, stating in the dash camera video that Ortiz was not wearing his seatbelt properly.

The Trooper said Ortiz would not roll down the driver's side window or get out of the SUV, nor did he provide ID or a driver's license when asked.

Ortiz took off down S May Avenue turning onto SW 21st Street which is a dead-end road. He then ran through Elizabeth Mejia's backyard.

“I was in my bedroom laying down and I heard screaming and looked through the window,” Elizabeth Mejia, witness, said. “I see like five cops and this guy running in our backyard.”

Troopers said Ortiz threw a loaded gun into a trailer parked in the Mejia's backyard. The pursuit suspect was tackled on the side of the home.

“I was scared he was going to try to get in our house or something,” said Mejia. “He was trying to jump over our gate right there but he couldn’t.”

Troopers took Ortiz into custody and walked him back to the squad cars. Mejia and neighbors who witnessed the pursuit said it all happened so fast they did not know why Ortiz was running from authorities.

“It was just a crazy day,” Mejia said.

Ortiz is being held in jail on a $10,000 bond. He has not been formally charged by the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office.

While Ortiz was awaiting trial for his role in the 2020 riots, he was arrested in Texas in connection to a domestic assault case in OKC. Court records showed the felony domestic abuse charges were dismissed by the DA's office.