Police Say Officers Were 'Violently Assaulted'
August 6, 2020 at 11:30 p.m.
Police Say Officers Were 'Violently Assaulted'
By David [email protected]
Warsaw Police Dept. Public Information Officer Det./Sgt. Brad Kellar said the officers were “violently assaulted,” with the female officer receiving the worst of it.
Miguel Enrique Delfin Cruz, 25, of 109 S. Henry St., Milford, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 9:06 p.m. Wednesday for battery on a public safety official with a bond set at $5,250 preliminarily, according to booking information. He is being held on a prosecutor’s hold during the active investigation.
At about 7:12 p.m. Wednesday, Warsaw Police received a report of a threat to life to a male subject at Quick Clean Laundry, 419 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw. All city officers were busy on other calls for service and a Winona Lake officer was close and responded to the laundromat, according to a news release from Warsaw Police Department. A short time later, a Warsaw supervisor, field training a probationary female officer, arrived on scene to take the lead in the investigation.
The complainant was able to point out the suspect in this case who was seated in the driver’s seat of a gray Ford Focus in front of the main doors of the business. As officers were gathering information, a third Warsaw officer arrived on scene assisting officers already present. From outside of the vehicle, he observed two boxes of ammunition in an interior door pocket as he looked down at the subject seated in the driver’s seat. As a matter of safety, he asked the subject where his gun was. The subject, later identified as Delfin, hesitated then said he left it at home, according to the release.
Officers validated that the threat took place and were in the process of persuading Delfin to gather his clothing and leave the property, rather than needing to file charges on the subject. He was reluctant to exit his car but finally stepped out. As he did, the third officer observed a bulge on the right side of his waistband, relaying that to the supervising field training officer and his probationary officer. As those officers stayed outside, they conducted a radio check with dispatch confirming that Delfin did not possess a license to carry a handgun, the release states.
Officers walked in with Delfin as he was stretching up to a top dryer to remove his clothes. It was at that time the female probationary officer observed a sidearm the suspect tucked inside of his jeans and attempted to hide with a phone in his right pocket. She took initiative to move in while he was getting his clothes, grabbing his right arm, planning to take him into custody before removing the gun, according to the release.
At point of contact, the suspect immediately began to “violently” fight with both police officers, the release stated. During the struggle, both officers later reported feeling the suspect intently tugging and pulling on their holstered sidearms to disarm law enforcement. As the physical fight persisted, Delfin was able to take possession of his Ruger LCP 380 loaded firearm, pointing it at the probationary officer’s head, and striking her in the head several times. Simultaneously, the field trainer disengaged from the fight to draw his sidearm preparing to use lethal force. This caused the suspect to point his loaded firearm at the field trainer who was trying to clear for a shot. Delfin was hiding behind the head of the female officer, the release states.
The third Warsaw officer and Winona Lake officer standing outside were alerted by witnesses of the fight inside the business. As the Warsaw officer ran in, he observed the suspect with his arm around the neck of the female officer. From his vantage point, he did not see the gun on the opposite side of her head, held by the suspect’s right hand. The officer subsequently tackled Delfin into the dryer machines. This blow knocked him down, but he still held possession of the firearm. The third officer, now realizing he was in possession of the gun, was able to knock it out of his hand and push it away from them on the ground.
The Winona Lake officer used a taser to aid in getting Delfin into handcuffs, as he was still actively resisting. Once he was in custody, the weapon was secured and found to be loaded, with a round in the chamber.
Both officers sustained scrapes, cuts and bruises to the arms and the female officer was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital due to the blows she suffered to the top of her head and forehead. She was released soon after.
Delfin was transported to the jail but not before saying he should have killed the female officer. He later made this same threat to jail staff during the booking process, according to the news release.
Warsaw detectives were able to secure surveillance video from the laundromat and officers' body-worn cameras of the interaction with Delfin. Additionally, detectives prepared a search warrant for the vehicle driven by the suspect due to the ammunition boxes observed in plain view, as well as a positive alert of the vehicle during an exterior K-9 sniff by Winona Lake’s K-9 officer and partner. The search warrant produced methamphetamine, methamphetamine paraphernalia, extended loaded magazine for the suspect’s gun and two other boxes of .380 ammunition.
Delfin received minor bruises and cuts because of his actions. Investigators are reviewing a plethora of charges against Delfin while continuing to investigate the incident. The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office is assisting WPD in reviewing evidence for all those charges.
Warsaw Police were assisted by Winona Lake Police, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and Lutheran EMS.
This was the third gun-related call that second-shift officers responded to during their tour of duty for Aug. 5.
Warsaw Police Dept. Public Information Officer Det./Sgt. Brad Kellar said the officers were “violently assaulted,” with the female officer receiving the worst of it.
Miguel Enrique Delfin Cruz, 25, of 109 S. Henry St., Milford, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 9:06 p.m. Wednesday for battery on a public safety official with a bond set at $5,250 preliminarily, according to booking information. He is being held on a prosecutor’s hold during the active investigation.
At about 7:12 p.m. Wednesday, Warsaw Police received a report of a threat to life to a male subject at Quick Clean Laundry, 419 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw. All city officers were busy on other calls for service and a Winona Lake officer was close and responded to the laundromat, according to a news release from Warsaw Police Department. A short time later, a Warsaw supervisor, field training a probationary female officer, arrived on scene to take the lead in the investigation.
The complainant was able to point out the suspect in this case who was seated in the driver’s seat of a gray Ford Focus in front of the main doors of the business. As officers were gathering information, a third Warsaw officer arrived on scene assisting officers already present. From outside of the vehicle, he observed two boxes of ammunition in an interior door pocket as he looked down at the subject seated in the driver’s seat. As a matter of safety, he asked the subject where his gun was. The subject, later identified as Delfin, hesitated then said he left it at home, according to the release.
Officers validated that the threat took place and were in the process of persuading Delfin to gather his clothing and leave the property, rather than needing to file charges on the subject. He was reluctant to exit his car but finally stepped out. As he did, the third officer observed a bulge on the right side of his waistband, relaying that to the supervising field training officer and his probationary officer. As those officers stayed outside, they conducted a radio check with dispatch confirming that Delfin did not possess a license to carry a handgun, the release states.
Officers walked in with Delfin as he was stretching up to a top dryer to remove his clothes. It was at that time the female probationary officer observed a sidearm the suspect tucked inside of his jeans and attempted to hide with a phone in his right pocket. She took initiative to move in while he was getting his clothes, grabbing his right arm, planning to take him into custody before removing the gun, according to the release.
At point of contact, the suspect immediately began to “violently” fight with both police officers, the release stated. During the struggle, both officers later reported feeling the suspect intently tugging and pulling on their holstered sidearms to disarm law enforcement. As the physical fight persisted, Delfin was able to take possession of his Ruger LCP 380 loaded firearm, pointing it at the probationary officer’s head, and striking her in the head several times. Simultaneously, the field trainer disengaged from the fight to draw his sidearm preparing to use lethal force. This caused the suspect to point his loaded firearm at the field trainer who was trying to clear for a shot. Delfin was hiding behind the head of the female officer, the release states.
The third Warsaw officer and Winona Lake officer standing outside were alerted by witnesses of the fight inside the business. As the Warsaw officer ran in, he observed the suspect with his arm around the neck of the female officer. From his vantage point, he did not see the gun on the opposite side of her head, held by the suspect’s right hand. The officer subsequently tackled Delfin into the dryer machines. This blow knocked him down, but he still held possession of the firearm. The third officer, now realizing he was in possession of the gun, was able to knock it out of his hand and push it away from them on the ground.
The Winona Lake officer used a taser to aid in getting Delfin into handcuffs, as he was still actively resisting. Once he was in custody, the weapon was secured and found to be loaded, with a round in the chamber.
Both officers sustained scrapes, cuts and bruises to the arms and the female officer was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital due to the blows she suffered to the top of her head and forehead. She was released soon after.
Delfin was transported to the jail but not before saying he should have killed the female officer. He later made this same threat to jail staff during the booking process, according to the news release.
Warsaw detectives were able to secure surveillance video from the laundromat and officers' body-worn cameras of the interaction with Delfin. Additionally, detectives prepared a search warrant for the vehicle driven by the suspect due to the ammunition boxes observed in plain view, as well as a positive alert of the vehicle during an exterior K-9 sniff by Winona Lake’s K-9 officer and partner. The search warrant produced methamphetamine, methamphetamine paraphernalia, extended loaded magazine for the suspect’s gun and two other boxes of .380 ammunition.
Delfin received minor bruises and cuts because of his actions. Investigators are reviewing a plethora of charges against Delfin while continuing to investigate the incident. The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office is assisting WPD in reviewing evidence for all those charges.
Warsaw Police were assisted by Winona Lake Police, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and Lutheran EMS.
This was the third gun-related call that second-shift officers responded to during their tour of duty for Aug. 5.
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