2nd Fla. man charged in Shelby Twp. abduction

A second Florida man has been charged in connection with an abduction last year in Shelby Township, police announced Thursday.

Angel Pantoja, 22, of Tampa, Fla., was arraigned Tuesday through 41-A District Court in Shelby Township on multiple charges, including two counts of carjacking, two counts of armed robbery, torture, unlawful imprisonment, and first-degree conspiracy to commit home invasion, police said in a statement.

A judge set Pantoja's bond at $3 million and scheduled his next court appearance for Wednesday.

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison for each count of carjacking, life for each count of armed robbery charge and up to life for the torture charge.

Court records listed Pantoja as being represented by attorney Mariell Lehman. She was not readily available for comment Thursday.

Shelby Township police said an investigation detectives to Florida and Pantoja. Officers arrested him there with the help of the Tampa Bay Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Investigators said Pantoja is one of multiple suspects in a kidnapping on Oct. 23.

That day, officers received a call about a kidnapping in the parking lot of the Lifetime Fitness gym at 14843 Lakeside Boulevard near Hayes and Hall roads.

Officers determined four armed men had abducted a 24 year-old man.

Investigators said the suspects carjacked the victim at gunpoint, restrained him in his own vehicle then drove away.

Officials said the suspect tortured the victim, drove him to his own home and went inside.

Sterling Heights police were informed about the abduction and went to the victim's home. When they arrived, the suspects took the victim and fled in his vehicle.

Officers tried to pull the vehicle over near 15 Mile and Dodge Park roads but it continued to flee, sparking a car chase that ended when it crashed near Maple Lane.

Three people — one adult and two juveniles — exited the crashed vehicle and ran. Police arrested the adult.

Officers searched the wrecked vehicle and found a 24-year-old man tied up along with a loaded rifle. He suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

Two days later, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office charged the man Sterling Heights police arrested, Angel Antonio Andujar-Ruiz, 33, also of Tampa, with 12 felonies in connection with the abduction.

Charges against Andujar include carjacking, armed robbery, torture, first-degree home invasion and three counts of using a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He is being held at the Macomb County Jail on a $3 million bond and is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 30.

Meanwhile, Shelby Township officials said the investigation into the abduction is ongoing and detectives have obtained arrest warrants for other suspects who are in custody elsewhere and are waiting to be extradited to Michigan.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

X: @CharlesERamirez