A Florida man, Ramon Enoch Ortiz, 48, of Jacksonville, was extradited to Charleston on Sunday after facing more than 30 charges related to reckless driving and high-speed pursuits in the city. The charges stem from a months-long investigation that began in February.
Reckless Driving and High-Speed Pursuits
The investigation started when Charleston Police were alerted to social media videos showing Ortiz riding a motorcycle at speeds up to 140 miles per hour and weaving through traffic. These videos only captured a fraction of his reckless driving behavior, authorities said. Ortiz is believed to have engaged in multiple high-speed pursuits across Charleston, some of which also took place in the Berkeley County portion of the city.
Charges and Extradition
Ortiz was booked into the Berkeley County Detention Center following his extradition. Investigators discovered that Ortiz was operating a motorcycle without a driver’s license, registration, or insurance, and was even selling merchandise to promote his high-speed videos.
The charges Ortiz faces in Berkeley County are significant:
7 counts of driving without a license
7 counts of operating an uninsured vehicle
7 counts of operating an unregistered vehicle
6 counts of reckless driving
1 count of racing on a public road
1 count of simple possession of marijuana
1 count of hit and run with minor personal injury
Ortiz also faces charges in Charleston County, where he was previously granted a $101,435 bond for six charges, including:
Failure to stop for a blue light
Racing on a public road
No driver’s license
Operating an uninsured vehicle
Reckless driving
Operating an unregistered vehicle
Ongoing Investigation
The Charleston Police Department’s Traffic Unit, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, conducted a thorough investigation involving digital forensic analysis, search warrants, and physical evidence to track down Ortiz. The bond hearing for his Berkeley County charges is set for 6:30 p.m.
