A sheriff’s deputy suspected of being beneath the affect was arrested after allegedly attempting to drive via the primary gate of Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado Friday night time, prompting base guards to shoot at his automobile, officers mentioned Saturday.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Cruz was off responsibility and did not have the correct clearance when he tried to get via the gate close to Third Avenue and Alameda Boulevard about 10:30 p.m., officers mentioned.
A Navy spokesperson mentioned Cruz was being aggressive and wasn’t following the directions of the gate guards. When Cruz tried to drive into base, a number of guards opened hearth.
“He was being aggressive,” Naval Base Coronado spokesperson Kevin Dixon mentioned. “The (army) safety guards felt threatened by his actions.”
Nobody was injured within the taking pictures, authorities mentioned.
Cruz was booked into jail on suspicion of driving beneath the affect of medicine and/or alcohol, a sheriff’s official mentioned. He was later launched on his personal recognizance pending future courtroom dates.
The sergeant was employed in 2006 and is assigned to the Sheriff’s Division’s emergency planning element, sheriff’s officers mentioned. He was positioned on paid administrative go away whereas the incident is investigated.
The Coronado Police Division and the Naval Felony Investigative Service are investigating the incident, with cooperation from the Sheriff’s Division.
“The Sheriff’s Division is not going to tolerate felony conduct in its ranks and can maintain workers accountable for his or her actions,” a sheriff’s information launch mentioned.
The bottom was quickly locked down following the incident, and the primary gate was closed for a number of hours whereas authorities investigated.
Cruz is a minimum of the fifth sheriff’s deputy to be arrested this 12 months.
In January, Deputy Cory Richey was arrested after he allegedly stole pharmaceuticals from a drop field in a sheriff’s station on a number of events, officers mentioned. He was suspended with out pay, and has pleaded not responsible in San Diego Superior Court docket to housebreaking and drug possession prices
Three further deputies had been arrested in February. Deputy Allen Wereski, 48, was taken into custody Feb. 3 after authorities say they discovered cocaine in his automotive at a jail. The 48-year-old has pleaded not responsible in San Diego Superior Court docket to a cost of possessing medicine on jail property, and faces as much as 4 years in custody if he is convicted. Wereski was suspended with out pay and is not with the division.
The subsequent day, Deputies Shawn Kobs and Tara Heath had been arrested after a battle in a Ramona bar. The 2 deputies had been mentioned to have taken half within the altercation and had been arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, the division mentioned.
An replace on their circumstances was not instantly accessible.
Metropolis News Service contributed to this report.
This story initially appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.
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