Cruz arrested for violent crimes in Springs

DENVER – Miguel Lerma Cruz, age 37, aka Danny Ortega, has been formally charged by grand jury indictment with drug distribution and firearm related crimes following a violent carjacking and police chase, Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer and ATF Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston announced. Cruz, who is in federal custody, has made his initial appearance, where he was read his rights as well as advised of the charges pending against him. A U.S. Magistrate Judge on November 7 ordered Cruz to be held without bond pending a resolution of his case.

Cruz was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on October 26. He appeared in U.S. District Court in Denver on November 2, and November 7.

According to court documents, on May 29, Colorado Springs Police Officers were dispatched following a report by a female of a disturbance at the El Ranchito Meat Market. The female stated that a male had threatened her and her husband inside the market. She was able to give authorities a description of the subject’s vehicle.  When officers arrived they observed the suspect vehicle, a Dodge pickup truck, in the parking lot. When they went to contact the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Cruz, rammed into a marked police patrol vehicle, driving past other uniformed police officers and marked police vehicles while fleeing the scene. A high speed pursuit ensued.

During the pursuit, which occurred over a considerable distance through heavily populated areas of the city of Colorado Springs, Cruz refused to stop. The chase stopped when Cruz went through a red light hitting two vehicles, including a vehicle occupied by two elderly individuals, both of whom were injured and transported to the hospital. The Dodge pickup truck was disabled due to the crash. Cruz then exited the van with an assault type rifle and approached a woman in an Acura sedan.  He ordered her out of the car at gun point, then fleeing the scene.  Officers continued pursuit, but eventually could not locate Cruz.

Investigators learned Cruz had two vehicles in the El Ranchito Meat Market parking lot -- a silver Saturn sedan and the  Dodge pickup truck. Both were searched by agents and officers. The stolen Acura was later located and searched after it was tied to Cruz by a palm print he left on the vehicle. A search of the Dodge yielded a 9 mm handgun stolen from a residence in Brattleboro, Vermont in 2013, approximately 289 grams of heroin, approximately 662 grams of methamphetamine, and up to $30,000 in cash.  Inside the Saturn authorities found a Ruger mini-14 rifle, ammunition for a AK-47 as well as ammunition for a 12 gauge shotgun.  They also found spent .40 shell casings that NIBIN hit to a shooting the month before.

Later Cruz was seen driving a white Camaro in Colorado Springs. He was surveilled at the 6800 block of Corporate Drive in Colorado Springs.  The Colorado Springs Police Department Tactical Enforcement Unit went to the area and on June 1, 2017, took Cruz into custody. A search of the Camaro uncovered approximately $4,000 in cash and a AK-47 rifle. Cruz had prior convictions for Attempt to Distribute Heroin, Distribution of a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, and assault, as well as three cases currently pending in state court for firearm and assault charges. Finally, the defendant had been convicted of Trafficking a Controlled Substance in Clark County, Nevada.

Cruz faces two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of use, carry and possess a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, one count of use, carry, possess and brandish a firearm during a drug trafficking crime carjacking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. If convicted of all counts, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 32 years in federal prison.
The ATF and the Colorado Springs Police Department investigated this matter.  The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Covell.

The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.