INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis landlord faces multiple charges after being accused by his tenants of holding a gun to their heads and demanding rent money, allegedly forcing one tenant at gunpoint to retrieve $400 from a Speedway gas station, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
On Feb. 3, a resident in the 1800 block of Howard Street, near South Harding and West Morris streets on the city's southwest side, told police he was sitting in his room watching a movie when when he heard a knock at his door. When the resident moved to unlock the door, it was reportedly pushed open. Jeffrey Salazar, the resident’s landlord, allegedly pushed it open and said, “You know what I’m here for.”
That resident’s roommate then also came out of his room after reportedly hearing Salazar threaten he would “(expletive) kill” his roommate, and told police he saw a gun being pointed at his roommate’s face.
“I will kill you right now. I will shoot you,” Salazar reportedly told the roommates before reiterating he was there for rent money. One resident then reportedly gave up his portion of rent to Salazar.
Both victims told IMPD their landlord then forced the roommate, who still owed Salazar money, at gunpoint to go to his car and go to a Speedway gas station near Holt Road and Morris Street. Salazar went with the roommate as he retrieved $400 from an ATM, then dropped him off alongside the road, according to court documents.
The residents called 911 to report they had been robbed around 3:15 a.m., according to IMPD, and Salazar was taken into custody shortly after.
Salazar was charged with two felony counts of armed robbery taking property by force and one count of kidnapping while armed with a deadly weapon. Police said Salazar had had $2,067 in cash when they arrested him, which matched the amounts given for his victims’ portion of "rent money."
During a later search warrant for Salazar’s car, detectives uncovered a black 9 mm handgun and 13 live 9 mm rounds from under the driver's seat.
An initial hearing was scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 8.
