MIAMI — Two men have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery that police say occurred at a Miami apartment complex in early September.

The armed robbery was reported on Sept. 1 at an apartment near the 1600 block of Northeast First Avenue just before 5:45 a.m.

Upon arrival, investigators said they responded to the apartment and spoke to the victim, who had visible injuries on his head and redness on his wrists and ankles consistent with being tied up.

The victim stated that he had been staying with one of the suspects for about a week, according to the report.

At approximately 9 p.m., while the victim was sitting in his room, Ellis Aaron Thornton, 26, and the second suspect, who police later identified as Theo Nathan Richards, 30, entered his room.

They said Thornton had a knife in his hand, and Richards had a black gun.

Shortly after, Richards pointed the gun at the victim, and both suspects started punching and kicking the victim, according to the report.

One of the suspects then pistol-whipped the victim while Richards put him in a chokehold, which caused him to pass out, the report stated.

The victim regained consciousness and realized that his hands and legs were tied up with zip ties, police said. Thornton then asked the victim where his money was.

The victim informed Thornton and they said he took a total of $27,000 from two of the victim’s bags.

While tied up, police said the victim heard Thornton speaking to someone on the phone.

They said the person on the phone told Thornton “if you don’t get the money, kill him.” The victim also observed Thornton with his Patek Philippe watch, which was on the bed before the incident. The victim was left tied up for several hours, the report stated.

At approximately 5:40 a.m., the victim was able to free himself and fled the apartment. The victim ran to the apartment’s lobby, and the police were called, according to investigators.

Police said after a search warrant was executed at the apartment, the victim identified a kitchen knife left on the stove as the kitchen knife that Thornton used to threaten him. Multiple birthday cards, credit cards, and documents with Thornton’s name were found at the apartment.

Investigators obtained video of both suspects leaving the apartment after the incident.

The victim verified that the individuals in the video were the suspects who robbed and kidnapped him, police said.

Jail records show both men are facing one count each of armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon, kidnapping or aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated battery with a firearm causing great bodily harm.

As of Wednesday, Thornton was being held without bond at the Metrowest Detention Center. Richards was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

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