Garland Optometrist Arrested in Irving After Police Find Stolen Rental SUV
IRVING, Texas — A 56-year-old Garland optometrist was arrested in Irving after police stopped him driving a stolen rental SUV that he admitted he had not paid for since June, according to an Irving Police Department arrest report.
Dr. Mark Aaron Ruiz, 56, of Garland, was taken into custody Friday, October 30, 2026, and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, a state jail felony.
Ruiz is an optometrist who owns Eye Care Vision Center in the 1800 block of Old Mill Run in Garland. According to the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registry, his professional license is listed as active.
Flock Camera Alerts Irving Police to Stolen Kia Sportage
The incident began around 9:10 a.m. when Irving police received an automated Flock license plate recognition alert identifying a stolen vehicle near North O'Connor Boulevard and West Grauwyler Road.
The vehicle was a 2026 Kia Sportage that had been reported stolen through the Dallas Police Department.
An Irving police officer responded to the area and spotted the SUV traveling southbound on North O'Connor Boulevard.
The officer followed the Kia for a short distance before observing the driver fail to stop at a stop sign as the vehicle approached West Irving Boulevard.
The officer activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop.
The SUV pulled over near the 200 block of West Irving Boulevard, where police conducted a high-risk traffic stop because the vehicle had been reported stolen.
Officers identified Ruiz as the driver and sole occupant and took him into custody.
Irving police confirmed through dispatch that the Kia Sportage was listed as stolen by Dallas police.
Optometrist Told Police He Stopped Paying for Rental Vehicle
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Ruiz told investigators that he had canceled the credit card associated with the rental vehicle and had not provided the rental company with a replacement card.
According to the arrest report, Ruiz acknowledged that he had not made payments on the rental vehicle since June 2026.
Police arrested Ruiz and transported him to the Irving Jail, where he was booked on a charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle.
The Kia Sportage was towed from the scene and later returned to the rental company.
