Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Robert Ordaz was booked into the jail on assault charges as well as disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man on a vodka-fueled tirade received a beat down from his son’s friend and then ended up going to jail.
Robert Ordaz, 46, was arrested for assault, disorderly conduct, aggravated assault on an officer and resisting arrest Thursday, July 5 and was booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility.
Deputies were dispatched at about 7:22 p.m. to a residence on S. Westridge Dr. regarding an incident in which two younger males were involved in an altercation with an older male (Ordaz).
According to several witness statements at the residence, Ordaz had returned from a stint at rehab for his alcoholism and was driving vodka against the occupants’ wishes in the residence. Ordaz allegedly was creating such a disturbance that he was asked to leave.
Ordaz then allegedly advised he would only leave if the occupants gave him the PlayStation 4 video game system he had previously given his son as a birthday present.
While in the process of leaving, Ordaz allegedly antagonized a roommate of his son’s by calling him names and goading him into a fight. Ordaz then allegedly threw a large cup of soda on the male and, according to the male, attempted to throw a punch.
The male then counterpunched Ordaz, who grabbed the male’s neck and threatened to kill him, according to statements to police. The male then continued to punch Ordaz in the face several times, eventually fracturing his nose.
Ordaz’s son came out of the residence and said he helped break up the fight with his mother. Both individuals corroborated the male’s version of events.
Ordaz said he was tripped by his son while leaving and that the roommate attacked him while he was down on the ground.
Ordaz initially refused medical treatment at the scene and demanded his son and his son’s roommate be arrested while acting belligerently toward the deputies. Once he was told he was going to be arrested instead, Ordaz resisted being taken into custody and kicked at the deputies as he was being placed into a patrol vehicle, striking one of them in the vest. A shoe print was seen on the deputy’s vest, and Ordaz’s shoes were later taken to compare with the print.
Ordaz was then taken to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released. While at the hospital, Ordaz allegedly continued to act belligerently and threatened to kill the male involved in the assault. He said his son and the roommate were just jealous of him for doing what he wants.
Ordaz was then taken to the jail and booked without further incident.
