Jose Cruz, (Hall County Department of Corrections, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND — A reported hit-and-run accident in Grand Island would lead to the arrest of a man for terroristic threats and assault on an officer during the evening of Sunday, Sept. 29.
According to the Grand Island Police Department, officers responded to the area of Locust St. and Lake St. for the report of a traffic accident with injuries. While in route to the scene, the driver of one of the vehicles left the scene.
Officers would contact a male driver at the Pump and Pantry on S. Locust St. The man would originally identify himself as Juan Cruz but would later properly be identified as Jose Cruz.
According to officers, Cruz would continue to not comply with the investigation of the accident and after he was told he could be placed in handcuffs, he attempted to evade the police.
Cruz was given multiple commands to stop resisting but he would not comply.
A records check would confirm that Cruz had active Hall and Adams County warrants.
While officers attempted to place Cruz in the marked patrol car, police say he would actively resist and tense his whole body to prevent the door from being closed.
When transferring Cruz to a patrol car with a full cage, Cruz would again resist, attempting to push away from the patrol vehicle with his foot.
While officers were placing Cruz into the patrol vehicle, he braced his shoulders and feet against the vehicle and thrust himself away from the vehicle into an officer, in doing so Jose knocked the officer back.
The officer was struck in the chin, causing scratches and pain.
While Cruz was in custody of the GIPD, he made multiple threats of future violence toward the officers.
Cruz would be arrested for obstructing a peace officer, terroristic threats, false reporting, resisting arrest – first offense, leaving the scene of an accident, drive under revocation/impound – first offense and third degree assault on an officer.