Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Bristol Township police have arrested one man after they say he held up a fake sign by the road asking motorists for money.
Raul Ortiz Torres, 44, was arrested Saturday on charges of scattering rubbish, obstructing a highway, and providing false identification to law enforcement. He remains in the Bucks County correctional facility, unable to post 10 percent of $5,000 bail.
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According to Bristol Township Officer Jason Mancuso, he had three prior contacts with Ortiz during the last month before coming in contact with him again around 12:46 p.m. on Saturday. According to Mancuso, in the past Torres has identified himself as 43-year-old Jose Colon. The officer noted in a probable cause affidavit that Torres was seen entering into traffic twice to collect money from passing motorists, then seen throwing a paper bag on the side of the road.
Torres, according to court documents, was holding up a sign that said, “Need money to get home to North Carolina. Please help.”
When the officer stopped Torres and asked about his sign, he told the officer it was a lie. According to a probable cause affidavit, Torres told police he was making over a hundred dollars in a few hours and “did not care” that he was deceiving the public.
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While Torres insisted his name was Jose Colon, he was not able to provide valid identification and was taken to police headquarters. While en route he informed the officer of his real name and real birthday. According to police documents, when the officer informed Torres he would be charged he stated, “it doesn’t matter as soon as I get out of here I am getting on a bus and [I] will disappear.”
Torres’ preliminary hearing is set with District Judge Robert Wagner Jr. for March 11.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents
