Richard Louis Torres, 19, Fortville
HANCOCK COUNTY — A teenager from Fortville has been arrested and charged with felony gun crimes in connection with the 2023 robbery of the Speedway Gas Station in Fortville.
Richard Louis Torres, 19, 400 block of East Monroe Street, was taken into custody and charged with a Level 3 felony count of armed robbery and a Level 6 felony count of pointing a firearm at another.
Torres had a case opened against him and a warrant put out for his arrest Friday, May 3 in Hancock County Circuit Court. He was ordered held without bond prior to his initial hearing Monday, May 6 where Judge Scott Sirk entered a not guilty plea, set a $15,000 cash bond and issued a no contact order.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officials from the Fortville Police Department were assigned to investigate a robbery case at the Speedway Gas Station, 335 E. Broadway Street which had taken place Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023 around 1:40 a.m.
Officials stated in the report that a man wearing a green and black hooded jacket and a ski mask entered the store and robbed a worker at gunpoint before leaving with approximately $445.
Officials were made aware of a young Hispanic male who was seen walking in parts of town before and after the robbery, they reported in the affidavit. Officials believed Torres was the suspect due to the description and the fact officials had multiple encounters with the male prior.
That coupled with the victim of the robbery telling officials the male had frequented the Speedway and walks around town daily made officials feel they knew who the suspect was, the report stated. Despite the suspicion of it being Torres, officials noted they never had enough evidence to bring him in for questioning.
Then, in April 25 of this year, officials from Torres’ family reported him missing, the affidavit said. The family sent police a photo of Torres, who happened to be holding a black and silver handgun, the affidavit said. Officials quickly remembered the description of the gun used in the Speedway robbery and once again felt Torres was the guy.
The affidavit noted that Torres had mentioned to others he did not have a reason to live and left his family. When police contacted the family, officials were told Torres had been acting strange for some time. The family believed he was involved in gang activities, the report stated.
Family members then looked at photos from the night of the robbery and told police they believed it was Torres in the photos, the report stated. They also provided officials with clothing they believed was worn in the robbery, the affidavit said.
Officials were contacted on April 27 saying Torres wanted to talk with officials after his family had located him, but when he showed up at the police station he demanded a lawyer and left without talking.
On April 28, officials conducted a photo lineup of males wearing the ski mask, and Torres was the one identified by the victim as the robber, the affidavit said.
Torres is due back in court late July for a pretrial conference.
