A Houston man is behind bars on a $450,000 bond after prosecutors say he drove the getaway car in two violent home invasions where victims were zip-tied and robbed at gunpoint by suspects posing as police officers.
Andres Hernandez Torres, 29, is charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated kidnapping, according to court records.
Prosecutors said Torres, who does not have a driver’s license, drove armed men wearing bulletproof-style vests labeled “officer” to and from the July 30 crimes.
According to court documents, during the home invasions, victims were restrained with zip ties, threatened at gunpoint, and had their property stolen.
Records show Torres has prior convictions for assault, drug possession, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
He is currently held in the Harris County Jail with his next court appearance scheduled for Monday, September 15.
One of the home invasions happened in July at an apartment complex in East Houston.
KPRC 2 News Reporter Corley Peel spoke with a survivor who said the suspects knocked on his door wearing police uniforms, bullet proof vests and were carrying guns. He said the next thing he knew, he and his friends were tied up with zip ties and the suspects took of with his sound equipment.
Geraldine Eason is a neighbor who said she was shocked to learn about what happened. .
“I heard a lot of noise over there. I didn’t know what was going on,” said Eason.
A judge revealed more details in probable cause court over the weekend about another home invasion Torres is accused of at a home in Southeast Houston last month.
“The defendant is here as one of multiple defendants, but those other two defendants are dead because one of those home invasions resulted in the homeowner, in Texas, shooting back,” said the judge.
Eason said she stays safe with a baseball bat in her room. She plans to take extra steps if anyone dressed as an officer knocks on her door.
“You’re gonna have to show me your badge and your ID. If you’re not the police, you get away from my door, or you’re going to get beat with a baseball bat,” said Eason.