May 16, 2025 – Kern County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on May 13, Kern County Sheriff’s Deputies responded 
to multiple incidents in the South Fairfax area. Around 8:51 A.M., deputies from the Lamont Substation were dispatched to the 9100 block of South Fairfax Road regarding an assault investigation. An elderly man reported being assaulted in his home by a Hispanic male who destroyed the victim's phone, forcibly entered the home and wrapped a blanket over his head. The suspect stole a second phone and tools before fleeing. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male adult in his 20’s wearing a dark brown hooded jacket and dark pants. (2025-00058842)
At approximately 10:47 hours, deputies from the Lamont Substation responded to a theft that occurred near South Sterling Road. A resident reported that an unknown Hispanic male stole a bicycle from outside their home. The suspect fled the scene on the bike, and the victim attempted to follow him to the area of South Fairfax and Hermosa Roads but lost sight of him as he entered a nearby almond orchard. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male adult in his 20’s, wearing a dark brown hooded jacket. (2025-00058894)
Deputies located the victim’s bicycle abandoned inside the orchard. Deputies searched the almond orchard and found Michael Ortiz, age 32, hiding in a tree near the abandoned bicycle. Ortiz was found to be in possession of stolen items from both above crimes. Ortiz was found to be in possession of additional items that were stolen from a residential burglary in the 7500 block of South Fairfax Road. (2025-00058970)
Michael Ortiz was booked into the Kern County Jail for:
- PC 664/187 – Attempted murder
- PC 368(A) – Elder abuse
- Two counts of PC 460(A) – Burglary,
- Two counts of PC 594(A) – Vandalism
- PC 236 – False imprisonment
- PC 212.5 – Robbery
- PC 591.5 – Damage wireless device
- 487(A) – Grand theft
- PC 242 – Battery
- PC 488 – Petty theft.
Anyone with information is requested to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (661) 322-4040.
Source: Kern County Sheriff’s Office
