Right now, a 63-year-old man is recovering at home after a business owner attacked him and threatened his life. It all happened in broad daylight Sunday near a 7-11 on Gunn Highway.
Emelio Rivera said his uncle, 63-year-old Pablo Ortiz is now nursing a cut on his arm. 38-year-old Ronnie Yagzi jumped out of his car, knocked Ortiz to the ground, then "removed a chainsaw from the trunk of his vehicle and started it, " according to the criminal report.
"He pulled it out the trunk and he said you don't pay me my money by next week, I'm going to cut you, I'm going to cut you into little pieces with, with this," Rivera translated for Ortiz.
Deputies said Yazgi stomped on Ortiz's arm and foot, repeatedly, until he bled. Records show Yazgi owns The Bottle Rack liquor store on Gunn Highway.
Rivera said, several months ago, an employee at the store accused Ortiz of stealing beer, but no charges were filed. Deputies said, Sunday, Yazgi fought with Ortiz about the possible theft, grabbed $85 worth of Ortiz's belongings, then threatened his life.
"I personally felt like a lot of anger, why would somebody come and beat up an old man like this...he's harmless," Rivera said.
We tried to talk to Yazgi, but an employee asked us to leave. Ortiz said, what makes this attack even worse, Yazgi's "7-year-old son was in the passenger seat of the vehicle."
"He did it in front of his son, and when he looked at the boy, the boy's face was like, he was scared, worried, concerned," Rivera translated for Ortiz.
Yazgi has been charged with aggravated assault, battery and theft. Yazgi denied using a chainsaw.
