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State Police conducted a vehicle and traffic stop on a 2018 Nissan Altima on the Taconic for speeding on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at about 8:35 p.m. in Pleasant Valley.
After the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle provided the trooper with a New York State identification card, an investigation revealed that the driver did not possess a valid driver’s license, according to state police.
When informed the vehicle was going to be impounded, the operator became irate, police said.
Further investigation revealed that Jose Santiago Cruz of Albany was armed with what was later determined to be a stolen handgun.
As the trooper attempted to place the suspect in custody, a lengthy struggle ensued, said police.
Santiago Cruz was able to free himself from the trooper and fled on foot into the nearby wooded area.
A City of Poughkeepsie police officer and K9 Ace responded to the scene and conducted a track. The suspect was located approximately 45 minutes later, and placed in custody.
Cruz, 40, was charged with:
- Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C felony,
- Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (Large capacity ammunition feeding device), a Class D felony,
- Fourth-degree criminal Possession of stolen property
Cruz was arraigned in the Town of Pleasant Valley Court where he was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $200,000 cash bail or $400,000 bond.
Throughout the investigation, Cruz provided a false identity to police, according to state police. After the arraignment, Jose Santiago Cruz was positively identified as the suspect, and bail was revoked by the Town of Pleasant Valley Court.
State Police were assisted by the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, City of Poughkeepsie Police, New York City Police Department, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Department of Motor Vehicle Investigators and the Mount Vernon Police Department.
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