Photo: suspects in this incident
The afternoon of January 3, 2021, a Porterville Police Department Special Investigations Unit detective approached a vehicle on the 700 block of West Kanai Avenue. Upon contact, the driver of the vehicle took off on foot, abandoning two passengers in the car. The pair left behind were identified as 27-year old Andrew Michael Cruz and 35-year old Jose Gonzalez, Jr.
Cruz and Gonzalez are known members of a criminal street gang. Cruz, who is currently on probation in Tulare County, initially resisted detainment. Once he was brought under control, a search of his person was conducted. On Cruz was found a quantity of cocaine determined to be for sale.
In the vehicle where he had been sitting was a loaded .380 semi-automatic pistol. Also found in the car was a high-capacity magazine and folded $1.00 bill with traces of cocaine. Both Cruz and Gonzalez, each with a history of felony convictions, were found under the influence of a controlled substance.
Cruz was arrested and booked at the Tulare County Jail for dirk/dagger, street terrorism, gang injunction possessing ammunition, possession of firearm by a felon, resisting arrest, possession or purchase for sale controlled substance, violation of probation, person unlawfully possessing ammo, under influence of a controlled substance, driving while having a 0.08% or higher blood alcohol, driving when privilege suspended for prior dui conviction, unlawful vehicle operation, and unlawful vehicle operation. His bail is set at $145,000.
Gonzalez was arrested and booked into the Tulare County Jail for possession of cocaine and being under the influence of a controlled substance. He has since been released but required to appear in court at his next scheduled hearing.
Photos from the Porterville Police Department
