Court Papers Detail More Info About August Assault On Cops
Posted
Amanda Bridgman-
The man who held police at gunpoint in early August at a local laundromat was allegedly mad over his boxers, according to court papers.
Miguel Enrique Delfin Cruz, 26, of 109 S. Henry St., Warsaw, was hit with 14 charges after the Aug. 5 incident at the Quick Clean Laundromat on Winona Avenue that include criminal confinement, a Level 2 felony; criminal confinement, a Level 3 felony; battery against a public safety official, a Level 5 felony; two counts of disarming a law enforcement officer, Level 5 felonies; intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony; possession of methamphetamine with enhancing circumstances, a Level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; two counts of pointing a firearm, Level 6 felonies; intimidation, a Level 6 felony; carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Aug. 10 in Kosciusko Superior Court I, on Aug. 5 Winona Lake and Warsaw police officers responded to the laundromat after customers there called 911 and said a man was threatening another man and acting erratic.
Upon arrival, police spoke with a customer who told police that Cruz confronted him and accused him of putting something on Cruz’s boxer shorts and that Cruz threatened to “kick his a**” over it.
Police approached Cruz, who was sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot. Cruz told police he was mad about his shorts. Police then noticed ammunition in plain view in Cruz’s vehicle, and when they asked Cruz if he had a weapon, Cruz told police he did but he left it at home. So, police told Cruz to get his laundry and leave to avoid further confrontation.
However, when Cruz went into the laundromat to gather his things, police saw a gun handle on Cruz’s waistband and attempted to get the weapon.
That is when, according to court papers, Cruz put up a fight, wrestling with the officers and tried to grab for the officers’ weapons. Police were able to knock Cruz’s gun away from him onto the floor, but Cruz was able to retrieve it and then he hit one of the officers on the head several times.
At one point, according to the affidavit, Cruz held one of the officers up like a shield in front of him, held a handgun to the officer’s head and threatened to shoot the officer. Cruz also pointed his weapon at the other officers during the incident.
Police were able to apprehend Cruz after more struggle and using a taser. That is when police discovered the weapon Cruz had was loaded and had one round in the chamber.
In Cruz’s vehicle, police located methamphetamine, a digital scale, a wooden box that contained methamphetamine, several boxes and rounds of ammunition and two glass smoking pipes.
According to court records, John Barrett has been appointed as a public defender in the matter.
