Cellphone Lost, then Held for Ransom at Zombiecon

A story just in time for Halloween.

A 28-year-old Cape Coral, Florida man was arrested Monday night after finding a man's lost cell phone and holding it ransom for $300, police said.

The victim, Michael Pfister, told Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies that he lost his cell phone Friday night at the Zombicon event in downtown Fort Myers.

On Saturday afternoon, Pfister's girlfriend received several text messages from the missing phone.

The suspect with the phone, later identified as Joel Ervin, demanded $200 for the return of the phone.
The suspect also stated that if police were called, the phone would be destroyed.

Pfister arranged to meet the suspect and make the transaction. When the two met, Ervin demanded $300 for the exchange.

Pfister was able to relay the vehicle information and description of Ervin to deputies shortly after the transaction was made.

Ervin was located a short time later and stopped by the deputies.

The money, along with the cell phone were returned to Pfister.

Ervin has been charged with dealing in stolen property, and grand theft over $300 and under $5,000.