On January 11, 2024, at approximately 4:00 pm, Arlington Police responded to a distress call from a parking lot in the 2200 block of S. Fielder Road. The caller, a 68-year-old woman, reported a physical assault by a family member, identified as 40-year-old Michael Cruz, that had occurred earlier in the week. Additionally, she claimed Cruz had threatened her with a torch on Thursday afternoon.
The woman, who displayed visible injuries from the earlier assault, decided to leave her residence and seek assistance in the parking lot by contacting the police. She expressed concerns that Mr. Cruz may be dealing with mental health issues.
Upon receiving the report, officers proceeded to Mr. Cruz's residence in the 2500 block of S. Fielder Rd to apprehend him in connection with the assault. However, Cruz initially refused to comply with the officers' instructions and declined to exit the house.
In response, a perimeter was established around the residence, and attempts were made to communicate with Cruz and encourage him to surrender peacefully. When these efforts proved unsuccessful, the SWAT team was called to the scene.
Just before 10:00 pm, Mr. Cruz voluntarily exited the residence, and he was taken into custody without incident. Following his arrest, Cruz was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation, where he was subsequently cleared by medical staff.
Michael Cruz now faces charges of one count of Aggravated Assault Family Violence Exhibiting a Deadly Weapon for the torch threat and one count of Injury to the Elderly Causing Bodily Injury for the earlier assault. He has been booked into the Arlington City Jail pending legal proceedings.
