Saturday morning around 8 a.m., a man who was dressed only in his underwear was found walking on Cedora Terrace in Sebring. The victim also had a significant injury to his face. When he was interviewed, it was learned he had survived a terrifying ordeal that started a couple of hours earlier in Avon Park.
The victim said he had been driving on Main Street when he saw 29-year-old Joshua Yamir Torres walking. The victim recognized Torres, so stopped to offer him a ride. Torres said he was going to Sebring.
As they were traveling south on State Road 17, Torres pulled out a pistol and struck the victim in the face hard enough to break his nose. Torres then instructed the victim to drive to a secluded spot near Basket Lake.
Once there, the victim was forced out of the vehicle and forced to strip down and get on his knees. Torres then put the firearm to the victim’s head and pulled the trigger. The gun did not go off. Torres tried to re-rack the firearm and pull the trigger again before the victim fought back and was eventually able to run away into an orange grove.
Torres fled in the victim’s car, which was later located in Avon Park with a large amount of blood inside. Torres was found around 6:45 Saturday evening in Sebring and arrested after a short foot pursuit.
Torres was charged with attempted second-degree murder, armed carjacking, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
If you have any information about this case, please email Det. Alexander Hill at detectives@highlandsheriff.org or call 863-402-7250. Tips can also be left via the HCSO app or with Heartland Crime Stoppers on their P3tips app or by calling 1-888-400-TIPS (8477), dialing **TIPS on your cell phone, or visiting www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and clicking on the “Submit A Tip” button. Crime Stoppers tips are always anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.
Note: Not all arrests result in convictions. Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
