BPD: 2 other men involved in Brownsville dating app ambush charged

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Two men accused of ambushing a man who was trying to meet someone through a dating app have been identified and charged.

Eduardo Ruiz and Michael Osvaldo Pena were served with four arrest warrants for the following charges:

• Aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony
• Aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony
• Engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony
• Unlawful restrained exposed to SBI, a third-degree felony

_{Michael Osvaldo Pena was served with four arrest warrants. (Source: Brownsville Police Department)}

_{Eduardo Ruiz was served with four arrest warrants. (Source: Brownsville Police Department)}

Police say Ruiz and Pena were involved with 17-year-old Ernesto Emmanuel Jimenez during the assault, who is also facing the same charges.

_{^{Ernesto Emmanuel Jimenez, 17, was served with four arrest warrants for assaulting a man after tricking him on a dating app, authorities say. (Source: Brownsville Police Department)}}

According to a previous ValleyCentral report, on June 29, authorities responded to the 2200 block of Illinois Avenue about an aggravated robbery.

The victim told police he went to the 2200 block of South Dakota Ave to meet with someone he met on a dating app. He told police when he arrived at the location, he was ambushed by a group of armed men.

The men were later identified as Ruiz, Pena and Jimenez.

According to police, the men tied the victim up, hit him on his head and forcibly placed him in the backseat of his car.

Reyes, Pena and Jimenez then took the victim to an isolated field at the 2200 block of Illinois Avenue and began assaulting him again before throwing him out of his vehicle, police said.

Jimenez was served four arrest warrants for the assault during his imprisonment at the Carrizalez Rucker Detention Center.

Reyes and Pena were served with the same charge a few days later. Both men were incarcerated when the arrest warrants were served.

Brownsville police want to remind the public to use caution when meeting with someone they have spoken to online.

“Before meeting someone in person, it is recommended to inform a trusted friend or family member of your plans, including details such as the location, time, and the person you’re meeting,” Brownsville police stated. “You never know who or what you will encounter.”

Abril Luna, Public Information Officer for the Brownsville Police Department, stated, these situations can happen on any online platform.

Brownsville police has several safety exchange zones at their main police department and the Southmost station.