Background: Surveillance footage allegedly shows George Horton attacking Rodolfo Ortega (WFOR/YouTube). Left inset: George Horton (Miami Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Center). Right inset: Rodolfo Ortega (WSVN/YouTube).
A Florida man fuming over “the placement of garbage” outside his apartment building by his 75-year-old neighbor beat the man with an “electric bicycle tire and rim” — hitting him in his face, head and body, according to police.
Cops say George Horton, 47, didn’t like the way his neighbor, Rodolfo Ortega, was disposing of his trash at the Normandy Isle apartment building where they lived near the 1200 block of Normandy Drive, according to local Fox affiliate WSVN. The alleged attack unfolded on Monday just before noon.
Ortega spoke to WSVN and other local outlets about the alleged e-bike attack, saying “he tried to kill me,” in reference to Horton.
“I tell the guy, ‘Don’t touch me,’” Ortega said.
“He touched me, and I tried to defend [myself],” Ortega added, noting that the alleged attack “broke” his head open.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
Horton’s arrest report, which was obtained by local ABC affiliate WPLG, accuses him of going after Ortega with the bike tire and rim after the victim brandished a screwdriver “to defend himself,” per the report. The two of them were initially having a verbal dispute “regarding the placement of garbage” and things escalated, according to the report.
Ortega told WSVN that he fell to the ground after the attack and suffered lacerations to his head, hands and other parts of his body. Surveillance footage captured from an area nearby shows the alleged assault unfolding.
“I don’t have nothing with the guy, no problem,” Ortega said, noting how he says hello to Horton on a daily basis. “Every day I say hi.”
Police said in Horton’s arrest report that he wasn’t located until Tuesday morning. Officers surveilling the area allegedly found him at the victim’s front door, “knocking and yelling incoherent statements,” WPLG reports. Horton allegedly had a “strong” odor of alcohol “emitting from his breath” when officers were talking to him.
Horton is being held on a felony charge of aggravated battery on a person 65 or older.
Police said in the arrest report that the surveillance footage “clearly depicts the physical altercation as described” and “corroborates the victim’s account.”
