VERO BEACH, FL – A bizarre incident unfolded after a man who is currently out of jail on a bail bond grabbed a fishing gaff and tried to take a six-year-old child.
According to the Indian River Sheriff’s Office, the man out on bail from St. Lucie County was called crazy by a caller after he armed himself with a fishing gaff hook.
At around Around 4 p.m. Saturday, the department received a call from the 5700 block of 59th Court, Vero Beach, that Ezekiel Cruz, 24, of Ft. Pierce, had been acting strange and paranoid over the last few days.The victim let him stay in the shed to help him out.
On the day he was arrested, Cruz was standing in the yard screaming, came to the door, and tried to enter. The victim told him not to come into the house. Cruz then reached into the door and tried to grab the victim’s 6-year-old house guest.
The child was pulled back into the home. He was then seen pouring whiskey on the front yard asking if they were all ready to die. The victim in the house lost sight of Cruz and went out to see where he had gone. Cruz then tried to hit them with the gaff.
“When we arrived on scene, Cruz was told to drop the gaff several times,” deputies reported. “He asked our deputy if he was ready to die.”
Cruz went on to repeat, “Are you ready to die?” and then added, “I have a bomb.”When we attempted to put him in handcuffs, he started to fight the deputies and grabbed for the taser and firearm. Cruz is facing charges of aggravated assault, aggravated assault on an officer, resisting arrest with violence, and battery. His bond has been revoked.