Fort Wayne Man Charged With Child Solicitation In Portage
On Thursday, February 6, 2025 Portage Police responded to 6532 U.S. Hwy 6 at Dunkin Donuts for a 39 year old male who allegedly was driving from Fort Wayne to meet a 13 year old girl, according to police reports.
On arrival officers spoke to a private citizen group called NWI Predator Catchers who stated the male in a parking spot was there to meet a child after an online sting. Officers and the citizen group walked over to the suspect car and identified themselves before detaining the male.
The male told officers he was coming from Fort Wayne where he lives, and said he was going to Chicago to stay with his brother. Police asked the male what he was doing in Portage if he was going to Chicago, and he stated he got turned around by his GPS. The male told officers he was just stopping at the liquor store to get a bottle. Officers then asked the male to clarify where he was going and he only said Chicago. Officers asked for his brother’s address in Chicago, which he could not provide.
Officers were then told by the NWI Predator Catchers the male was using the app Grinder and believed he was talking to a 13-year-old girl for 2 months. The male asked for several nude pictures of the teen on the app and spoke in messages sexually about what he wanted to do her. In those conversations the male spoke about oral sex, sex, and birth control. The male also described wanting to call the teen his girlfriend and go on dates to the movies.
When detectives asked to see the male suspects phone he refused and then asked to speak to an attorney. The phone was confiscated and police obtained a warrant for the contents of the device.
The suspect has since been identified as Aiden Ortiz, 39, of Fort Wayne. Ortiz was charged with Child Solicitation a Level 4 Felony and Child Solicitation a Level 5 Felony. Ortiz is currently lodged in the Porter County Jail.
