NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A man wanted for second-degree murder in Pasco County was arrested early Monday morning at a Lake City hotel, according to the Lake City Police Department (LCPD).
Lake City police said the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) contacted them requesting assistance locating Ivan Aguilera Torres, who investigators believed was staying at a hotel in Lake City, according to a news release.
During the investigation, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) received information that indicated Torres, 44, may have been at a residence in its jurisdiction. TPD detectives spoke to someone at that residence who said he had driven Torres to Gainesville earlier that day, the New Port Richey Police Department (NPRPD) said.
Surveillance footage, including FLOCK camera information, showed the witness leaving the area with Torres and later returning without him. This information helped lead investigators to the suspect's location, police said.
Officers in Lake City located Torres at the Regal Inn on West U.S. Highway 90 and established a perimeter around the room. After several announcements from officers, Torres exited the room with his hands raised and surrendered without incident, LCPD.
Torres was taken into custody on the Pasco County warrant and transported to the Columbia County Detention Facility, per the release.
New Port Richey police said a verbal disturbance Sunday on Hillside Drive between two people who knew each other turned physical. During the altercation, Torres allegedly stabbed 39-year-old Odisnel Santana Pena once in the chest with a large machete-style knife. Pena died at the scene from his injuries.
The homicide investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.
“Our officers worked quickly and methodically to locate a suspect wanted for a serious violent crime,” Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler said in a statement. “Their coordination with Pasco County and the cooperation of local hotel staff resulted in a safe arrest without injury to the public, the suspect or our officers.”
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