A Georgia minister, his wife and their son, who all allegedly attacked police officers during a scuffle over a runaway girl, now face multiple charges including assault.
Wilmer Cruz, his wife Cristina and their teenage son, Wilmer Cruz Jr., were charged with 12 counts of aggravated assault and other charges on Thursday, according to WSB-TV.
The charges stem from an incident which occurred on March 24, when officers were called to Inglesia Cristina Evangelica Church, in Lilburn, Georgia, regarding a missing girl.
Wilmer Cruz Sr. and his wife, Cristina, (in April) face assault charges after a March incident in which they allegedly attacked police officers outside the church were Wilmer Sr. is a minister
Wilmer Cruz Jr. (in April) also faces assault charged for allegedly attacking police officers during the skirmish, which was over a runaway girl who was hiding at the church and supposedly pregant with Wilmer Jr.’s child
The teenage girl, 16, had apparently been impregnated by the Wilmer Jr., 17, and was hiding out with the family at the church.
When officers arrived at the church, they ended up in an all-out brawl with Wilmer Sr., Cristina and Wilmer Jr., which was caught on policy body camera and witness cellphones, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
Sgt. Ryan Long said the confrontation turned violent when Wilmer Sr. and his son pushed him against a glass door.
Officer Ryan Long (in April) said that the Cruz family assaulted him while he was responding to the call about the missing teenage girl
‘I was slammed against the glass door, hitting my head up against the glass and Mr. Cruz was choking me to the point I couldn’t breathe,’ Long said in April during a preliminary hearing.
In the video, Long can be seem holding a taser to Wilmer Sr.’s back, before appearing to have the stun gun yanked from his hand by Cristina, who then threateningly pointed the taser at Long, before he arrested her.
It’s at that point when Wilmer Sr. and Wilmer Jr. can be seen attacking Long, pinning him up against a glass door and hitting and kicking him.
Another of Wilmer Sr.’s sons, who has not been identified, can also be seen in the footage taking an officer’s radio.
Long said he believes the family fought back because they thought ‘officers were not allowed to fight back against them.’
He also testified that family members threatened to kill his mother.
The fight erupted after the missing girl, who has since been returned to her mother, was found with the family.
The fight between police officers (including Long, pictured) was captured on video
In an April hearing, Long said that Wilmer Sr. and Wilmer Jr. had slammed him up against a glass door and choked him to the point where he was unable to breathe
While the bulk of the charges had been levied against Wilmer Sr., prosecutors have now charged Wilmer Jr. with six counts, including one charge of allegedly taking an officer’s radio and stopping him from calling for backup.
Aggravated assault on a peace officer charges were filed against Cristina and Wilmer Jr. on Thursday as well.
Wilmer Sr. and Wilmer Jr. are said to be still in jail, but Cristina is out on bond.
A week prior to the March 24 incident, Ana Cardenas Robles, the mother of the 16-year-old runaway, filed an order against Cristina, alleging the woman stalked her and threatened her with deportation.
She also said Cristina refused Robles to have any contact with her pregnant teenage daughter.
The Cruz family’s attorney contested that claim in court in April, saying Robles congratulated her daughter and Wilmer Jr. for the pregnancy.
The attorney also claims Robles allowed her daughter to stay with their family.
All three Cruz family members face charges of obstruction and interference with custody in addition to the new assault charges.