Minister and family charged with 12 counts of assault after brawl with police
A minister, his wife and his 17-year-old son have been charged with 12 counts of aggravated assault after an altercation with police officers at a church in Lilburn, Georgia last month.
Wilmer Cruz, his wife Cristina and their 17-year-old son, Wilmer Cruz Jr., are facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault, for allegedly attacking police officers who were responding to a missing person rescue call on March 24.
According to WSB-TV the police officers had been called to Iglesia Cristiana Evangelica in Lilburn to rescue a 16-year-old girl who was reportedly hiding out at the church after allegedly falling pregnant to Wilmer Cruz Jr.
When the officers arrived in the parking lot of the church, they were confronted by the family, who were accused of keeping the 16-year-old from her mother.
The brawl was reportedly captured on police body camera and cellphone videos. One footage appeared to show Cristina Cruz grabbing a stun gun from Sgt. Ryan Long.
Wilmer Cruz Sr. and Wilmer Cruz Jr. are accused of attacking the officer by pinning him against a glass door.
"I was slammed against the glass door, hitting my head very hard against the glass. Mr. (Wilmer) Cruz was choking me to the point I couldn't breathe," Long said during the preliminary hearing in April, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Many of the charges were filed against Wilmer Cruz Sr., but his wife and son are also facing aggravated assault charges.
The girl's mother, Ana Cardenas Robles, filed an order against Cristina Cruz on March 19, alleging that the minister's wife had prevented her from having any contact with the pregnant teenager. She also accused Cristina Cruz of stalking her and threatening her with deportation. The pregnant teen has since been returned to her mother.
The Cruz family responded to the allegations in court, saying Robles had allowed her daughter to stay with the family, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Cristina Cruz has been released on bond, but Wilmer Cruz Sr. and his son are still in jail, according to WSB-TV.
