{"active":true,"first_name":"Ariel","last_name":"Cruz","race":"Hispanic","gender":"Male","rank":"SGT","command":{"command":"046 PCT","assignment_date":"2021-08-30","id":"46pct"},"shield_no":1114,"taxid":"951644","complaint_ids":[202502683,202502446,202412729,202407818,202408380,202401486,202401634,202403127,202310215,202310522,202309635,202307666,202307397,202306916,202305287,202304491,202303888,202204715,202203606,202208690,201901834],"command_history":[{"command":"PBBX SU"}],"appt_date":"2012-01-09","shield_no_history":[21407],"lawsuits":[{"name":"O., J., Infant By Mng Pabon, Jeannette, et Al vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2025-10-01","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"820731/2025E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx"},{"name":"Baez, Bryan vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2025-06-03","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"811747/2025E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx"},{"name":"Samuel, Clifton, et Al vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2025-03-03","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"804805/2025E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx"},{"name":"Jean, Scott & Siri, Starlin vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2025-02-24","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"804089/2025E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx"},{"name":"Ortiz, Luis vs City of Ny, et al.","start_date":"2023-01-10","disposition_date":"2023-08-01","payout_amount":15000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"22CV10655","court":"U.S. District Court - Southern District NY","summary":"On September 19, 2021, Plaintiff was driving what he believed was his friend's car on the road when two police cars boxed in Plaintiff's vehicle. Several officers aggressively rushed over, with guns-drawn, to Plaintiff's car. Plaintiff jumped out of the car and ran, fearful that the police would shoot him. He ran about one to two blocks before he was surrounded by multiple officers and police vehicles. He stopped running and put his hands in the air above his head. Although he had surrendered, some officers tasered him twice from behind. Other officers knew that the tasering was unnecessary and excessive, but they failed to intervene. Sargeant Ariel Cruz was a member of this group of officers. Plaintiff fell chin down on the ground and sustained severe injuries to his chin and jaw, and cuts over his hands and wrists. Officers then handcuffed Plaintiff's hands too tightly and caused cuts and bruises on his wrists. When Plaintiff complained, officers refused to loosen the handcuffs. Again, other officers failed to intervene when they knew that it was objectively unreasonable that their fellow officers refused to loosen Plaintiff's handcuffs. \n\nAfter arresting Plaintiff, officers took him to the hospital where he was informed he needed surgery and was discharged with instructions to follow up with a specialist. Officers then took him to Central Booking. He was arraigned in criminal court on grand larceny and related charges concerning the unauthorized use of the vehicle. He was released on his own recognizance. Later, the case was dismissed and sealed. The day after his release, Plaintiff sought medical help at one hospital but was not able to obtain the proper procedure. Plaintiff sought medical help at another hospital a week later and was informed it was too late to perform surgery. For the next two to three months, Plaintiff continued to experience pain in his jaw, TMJ symptoms, and headaches.","documents":[{"url":"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.591237/gov.uscourts.nysd.591237.1.0.pdf","type":"complaint"}],"url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66664303/ortiz-v-city-of-new-york/"},{"name":"Johnson, Fabian vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2020-11-18","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"033861/2020E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx","officer_name":"Cruz, Ariel","summary":"On July 20, 2019, in the vicinity of Clinton Avenue and Crotona Park South in the Bronx, Defendant officers unlawfully arrested, restrained, assaulted, battered, imprisoned, and humiliated Plaintiff without just cause or provocation. Plaintiff was falsely charged, and a criminal complaint was filed against him the same day. He remained in custody until his release on July 21, 2019, and the criminal case was terminated in his favor on January 29, 2020.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=lwNBABxm3kaQOGqElE85RA==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Brijlall, Rohan vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2020-02-04","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"021554/2020E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx","officer_name":"Cruz, Ariel","summary":"On February 19, 2019, Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle when it was pulled over. The officer then charged the driver and the Plaintiff with possession of stolen property. During the booking process, an officer forcefully grabbed Plaintiff and threw him to the ground without justification. The officer then twisted Plaintiff's arm to the point of breaking it. Plaintiff was left with his broken arm untreated for approximately 45 minutes before officers took him to receive medical attention. All charges against Plaintiff were subsequently dismissed.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=g4NvuZsABX4OGkZbe6QRaw==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"James, Kendale vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2018-04-04","disposition_date":"2019-05-30","payout_amount":25000,"disposition":"Settlement","docket":"023794/2018E","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx","officer_name":"Cruz, Ariel","summary":"On August 20th, 2017, Plaintiff Kendale James was on the street not acting improper or suspicious in any way. Defendant officer Ariel Cruz and other unnamed Defendant officers stopped Plaintiff James on the baiss of race and searched for illegal possessions. \n\nDefendant officers then grabbed Plaintiff using excessive physical force resulting in injuries to Plaintiff. Plaintiff James was seized and arrested based on false claims. While in the custody of Defendant officers, Plaintiff James was strip searched and incarcerated for over 24 hours until all charges against him were terminated favorably.","documents":[{"url":"https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=7quE6YSZLGb/xUaSh5ctUQ==","type":"complaint"}]},{"name":"Bolden, Mikail vs City of New York, et al.","start_date":"2014-09-05","payout_amount":0,"disposition":"","docket":"304626/2014","court":"Supreme Court - Bronx","officer_name":"Cruz, Ariel"}],"discipline":[{"disposition_date":"2024-01-24","case_no":"2023-28792","penalty":"A - Command Discipline, vacation days (3 days)","recommendation":"Command Discipline - A","allegations":[{"desc":"Wrongfully frisked an individual known to the Department."},{"desc":"Wrongfully stopped an individual known to the Department."}]},{"disposition_date":"2024-01-24","case_no":"2023-28792","penalty":"B - Command Discipline, vacation days (5 days)","recommendation":"Command Discipline - B","allegations":[{"desc":"Wrongfully frisked an individual known to the Department."},{"desc":"Wrongfully stopped an individual known to the Department."}]}],"documents":[{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27919665-cruz_03192026pdf/","date":"2026-03-19T00:00:00.000Z","type":"deviation-letter"},{"url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24441170-bronx-notified-officers-list-edited_redacted-redacted_redacted","type":"credibility-finding"}],"image":"https://www.50-a.org/images/officer/FMQH-ariel-cruz.jpg","payroll":{"salary":"97894","regular":"97444","overtime":"15046","other":"19494","total":"131984"},"id":"FMQH","url":"https://www.50-a.org/officer/FMQH"}