Date of birth: | Feb 13, 1970 |
Ethnicity: | MEXICAN AMERICAN |
Hair: | Black |
Eyes: | Brown |
Unit: | ASPC Eyman SMU II |
Status: | ACTIVE |
Release type: | NEW COMMITMENT |
Most recent loc: | ASPC Eyman |
Last movement: | May 6, 2005 |
Inmate number: | 194940 |
Inmate detainee: | INMATE |
Custody class: | 5/2 |
Crime description: | INMATE 194940 - CRUZ, JOHN M. On May 26, 2003, Cruz murdered Officer Patrick Hardesty, an on-duty law enforcement officer with the Tucson Police Department. Officer Hardesty had responded to a traffic collision in which Cruz’s vehicle struck another vehicle. Cruz fled the scene and Officer Hardesty and other officers located him inside a nearby apartment. Cruz told the Officers that his name was Frank White and led the Officers to a vehicle parked outside the apartment complex to get identification. Instead of producing his identification, Cruz escaped, sneaking through a hole in a fence right next to the apartments. Officer Hardesty began chasing Cruz on foot while another officer ran back to his police car and drove in the direction that Officer Hardesty was chasing Cruz. Cruz shot and killed Officer Hardesty before the other officers arrived. Cruz fired four shots, including shots to the head and adbomen, from point-blank range. PROCEEDINGS Presiding Judge: Hon. Ted B. Borek Prosecutor: Rick Unklesbay & Thomas Weaver, Jr. Defense Counsel: Brick Storts & David Basham Start of Trial: January 19, 2005 Verdict: February 25, 2005 Sentencing: March 10, 2005 Aggravating Circumstances Murder of a peace officer in the line of duty PUBLISHED OPINIONS [Direct Appeal pending before the Arizona Supreme Court] |
Community supervision parole: | N |
Commitment status: | COMPLETE AND VERIFIED |
Admission date: | May 6, 2005 |
Booking location: | Maricopa County, AZ |
Commit number: | A01 |
Admit date: | May 10, 2005 |