There’s only one thing that can land a person in jail quicker than drinking and driving ? drinking and punching a cop.
Anthony Paul Ruiz, 27, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania is accused of doing just that to an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy who was passing through downtown Oxford on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 31.
Ruiz was arraigned in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court on charges of resisting and obstructing a police officer and being drunk and disorderly. His bond was set at $5,000 cash/surety.
According to the sheriff’s report, the deputy was stopped at the Washington/Burdick traffic signal, when an employee from a downtown eatery ran up to his patrol car.
The employee told the deputy she had a ‘drunk? in the restaurant and needed help.
The deputy agreed to help until an Oxford Village police officer could get there.
The deputy approached Ruiz, who ‘appeared intoxicated,? the report stated. ‘He was staggering, slurred his speech and had glassy eyes.?
The report indicated Ruiz admitted he had ‘too much? to drink.
Ruiz told the deputy he was on his way to Las Vegas and stopped in Oxford for lunch.
When Ruiz began to walk toward traffic on M-24, the deputy grabbed his right arm to keep him safe.
Ruiz then allegedly used his left fist to strike the deputy in the chest. He then allegedly resisted the efforts of both the deputy and a village officer to restrain him.
During the ride to the Oakland County Jail in Pontiac, Ruiz started kicking the windows of the patrol car in an attempt to exit it, according to the report.
The deputy sustained no injuries as a result of the alleged punch.
‘My (bulletproof) vest had its metal chest plate in,? the deputy noted in his report.