EL PORTAL, Fla. – El Portal police are looking for a man who they say never did the contracting work he was paid for.
This all began when Ian McKenzie wanted to remodel his kitchen, so he thought he got a licensed contractor.
“He took my money and never completed anything,” said McKenzie.
Nine months ago, McKenzie said he gave a man police have identified as Mike Martinez a $12,000 deposit. And then the guy disappeared.
“He wasn’t responding,” McKenzie said, adding that he thought he did his due diligence.
Eventually, he went to the police and picked Martinez out of a photo lineup.
“The state of Florida (is) working cases on him,” said El Portal police Sgt. Renee Gutierrez. “He does not have a license. It’s possible that his MO is just to take money and not do the work.”
Police are hoping to find Martinez and take him into custody.
“At this time, we have probable cause for an arrest,” said Gutierrez.