Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz is accused of violently lashing out at a jail guard who simply asked him to stop dragging his feet.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Cruz has had additional charges added to his arrest record after he allegedly assaulted an officer guarding him at Broward County Jail Tuesday evening. The Sun Sentinel has identified that officer as Sgt. Raymond Beltran, who reportedly asked Cruz to stop dragging his sandals while walking in the jail. According to the incident report obtained by the newspaper, Cruz responded first by giving the officer the middle finger. After Sgt. Beltran approached him, Cruz allegedly punched him in the head and the face repeatedly.
The officer and the inmate reportedly fell to the ground and continued to struggle while another guard called for backup. At one point during the assault, which was caught on video, Cruz was able to reach for Sgt. Beltran’s stun gun, and the officer received a shock when the gun discharged.
According to the report, Sgt. Beltran was able to retrieve his stun gun and hit Cruz in the face, at which point the inmate retreated and sat in a chair.
Cruz is expected to face additional charges of aggravated battery on an officer, assault on an officer, and using an electrical or chemical weapon against a law enforcement officer. He has been in custody since the February 14 mass shooting at Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland, which killed 17 people and injured 17 more. Cruz reportedly confessed to the shootings.
CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.