Cruz Found Guilty On Several Charges After Bench Trial
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
Miguel Enrique Delfin Cruz
WARSAW — A Milford man was found guilty on several criminal charges after attacking an officer and pointing a loaded handgun at police during an August 2020 incident.
During a Jan. 17 bench trial, Miguel Enrique Delfin Cruz, 28, 109 S. Henry St., Milford, was found guilty of criminal confinement, a level 2 felony; battery on a public safety official, intimidation with a deadly weapon, carrying a handgun without a license with a sentence enhancement, and two counts of disarming a law enforcement officer, all level 5 felonies; and resisting law enforcement, intimidation, and two counts of pointing a firearm, all level 6 felonies.
In the trial, the state was represented by Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton. Cruz was represented by Defense Attorney Randall Hammond.
Judgment of conviction on the charges was filed by Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed on Jan. 25. Cruz’s sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 21.
On Aug. 5, 2020, officers responded to a report of a threat to life at Quick Clean Laundry in Warsaw. The reporting person identified Cruz as the person who threatened him. Cruz was seated in a vehicle in front of the laundromat when officers arrived.
Officers approached the vehicle Cruz was in and noticed two boxes of ammunition inside the vehicle. When officers asked Cruz where his firearm was, Cruz said he left it at home.
As Cruz exited his vehicle to gather his clothing and leave the property, officers noticed Cruz had a firearm on his person and confirmed Cruz did not have a license to carry a handgun.
When two of the responding officers attempted to take Cruz into custody, Cruz immediately began to violently fight with the officers. During the struggle, the two officers reported feeling Cruz tugging and pulling on their holstered sidearms.
As the fight persisted. Cruz took possession of his firearm, pointed it at one of the officer’s heads and hit her in the head several times.
Simultaneously, another officer drew his sidearm, preparing to use lethal force. This caused Cruz to point his loaded firearm at the officer who drew his sidearm.
A responding Winona Lake officer used a taser, secured Cruz’s loaded firearm, and took Cruz into custody.
Both officers involved in the physical struggle with Cruz sustained scrapes, cuts and bruises to their arms. The officer Cruz battered with a firearm was taken to a local hospital but was released soon after.
As Cruz was being taken to the Kosciusko County Jail, Cruz said he should have killed the female officer.
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