The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office has issued a public appeal for assistance in locating Anthony R. Cruz, a 25-year-old male suspect wanted in connection to an assault on a pregnant woman.
Cruz is accused of assaulting a pregnant woman on June 29 at a Dunkin Donuts located at 302 Pine Tree Road in Ithaca. According to the TCSO, Cruz, who is believed to be linked to other reported road rage incidents in the area and known to frequent Elmira is urgently sought.
The authorities responded to the assault incident at approximately 8:40 a.m. on the day of the attack.
Upon arrival, they found the pregnant woman with facial injuries, reportedly caused by a punch, and evidence she had been dragged by a vehicle. The woman told officers that she had been involved in a road rage incident with the suspect just before she arrived at Dunkin Donuts.
After leaving the store, she noticed the same vehicle parked next to hers, and upon finding her car had been keyed, attempted to confront the male suspect. The altercation escalated, leading to her assault and subsequent dragging by the suspect’s vehicle.
An accomplice, 23-year-old Makendra Peterson of Painted Post, has already been arrested in connection with the incident and was charged on July 13 with second-degree assault, a class D felony, for allegedly driving the suspect’s vehicle. Cruz faces charges of second-degree assault and criminal mischief. TCSO has urged anyone with information about Cruz’s whereabouts to call their tip line at 607-266-5420, or to dial 911 directly if the information includes a real-time location.
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