Sheriff: Emphasis On Investigation Is Finding Deputy's Killer
Winfield's Body Found In Flipped Cruiser In Ravine

POSTED: 9:05 a.m. EDT October 15, 2004
UPDATED: 1:01 p.m. EDT October 15, 2004


Story by nbc4i.com

WALDO, Ohio -- The Marion County Sheriff said Friday that if he could go back a day in time to not let anyone on his force inside their cruisers with a gun.

Deputy Brandy Winfield was found fatally shot along state Route 423 in Marion County early Thursday, NBC 4 reported.

His body was found in his sheriff's cruiser, which was flipped over in a ravine.

Authorities arrested a person suspected in Winfield's death when they found a van along U.S. 23 A second suspect, Juan Carlos Cruz, 20, who is suspected of shooting Winfield, remains at large, NBC 4 reported. He was described as armed and dangerous.


According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Winfield was dispatched to state Route 423, about 6 miles south of Marion, on a report of a disabled vehicle along the road. The sheriff's office said that no vehicle or person was located at the scene.

According to the sheriff's office, Winfield encountered two men walking along S.R. 423 and was in the process of checking out the pair. One of them was carrying a gas can, authorities said. There was no further radio traffic with the deputy, the sheriff's office reported.

A vehicle was later found overturned in a ravine off S.R. 423 by a motorist. Authorities responded to the scene and found Winfield. He was transported to Marion General Hospital and pronounced dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Video taken at the scene by Chopper 4 showed the sheriff's cruiser upside down, in a wooded area. It was removed from the scene later in the day.

Marion County Sheriff Tim Bailey said the emphasis of the investigation is finding Cruz. At the same time, Bailey and his colleagues are dealing with the loss of Winfield.

"If I could go back 24 hours, I would tell my officer to not let anyone in the car with a gun," Bailey said. "However, as a law enforcement officer, we're trained to go to a situation. We assess it, we evaluate the threat level. This, we believe, was a case where he was assisting a motorist that ran out of agas and its really difficult to second guess his judgment but obviously it was fatal."

Cruz's last known address was in Marion, and Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said that he also might have lived on David Street in Delaware.

"We ask that nobody approach (Cruz)," Myers said. "However, if they find him or know his location, or have any information that could lead us to Mr. Cruz, to call the Delaware Police Department or the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.

Cruz, 20, is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall and about 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Winfield was a six-year veteran of the Marion County Sheriff's Office road patrol. He is survived by his wife and two children. His father and brother are officers with the Marion Police Department, according to the sheriff's office.

After a statewide alert, the suspect's vehicle was located. Authorities caught up with another suspect at about 6 a.m. and arrested him at Obee's Deli Market, where he was seen walking with a gasoline can. Another man, believed to be Cruz, fled into the woods off U.S. 23, just north of Delaware, NBC 4's Natalie Walston reported.

Anyone who have information about Winfield's murder or Cruz's whereabouts is asked to contact the Delaware Police Department at (740) 362-1111 or the Delaware County Sheriff's Office at (740) 833-2800.

Winfield's viewing will be held on Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Marion County Coliseum, located at the county fairgrounds. His funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at the same location.

Donations can be made in Deputy Winfield's name at Fahey Bank in Marion.


Nobody gets in the back seat without being searched. You dont consent to being searched first, you walk. Period. Hell i thought everyone did it that way.

Juan Carlos Cruz

Probably one of those 4,000 a day that just walks across the border.

Presumably the deputy was shot in the back of the head.  

Where’re all the members who joke about the officer going home safely?

I grew up pretty much where it happened.  I sort of knew/knew of him, he went to a different school and was a year younger than me.  Honestly, this is the first time that I have ever heard of any Mexicans causing any sort of trouble around there short of the bi-weekly drunken disorderly and they pay their fine and go back to work the next day.

This dude was wanted in Delaware Co. for beating his ex with a tire iron.  May he fair so well...

UPDATE:

www.nbc4i.com/news/3825593/detail.html

Man Wanted In Deputy's Killing Captured
Authorities Charge Cruz With Aggravated Murder

UPDATED: 10:24 PM EDT October 15, 2004
MARION, Ohio -- The man who is suspected of shooting and killing a Marion County sheriff's deputy was taken into custody Friday night at an apartment in Marion.

Juan Carlos Cruz was found inside the Crescent Heights apartment complex on the city's south side, NBC 4 reported. A resident reportedly spotted Cruz and called authorities, NBC 4 reported.

Earlier Friday, he was charged with aggravated murder.

The capture of Cruz ended a multicounty search for him. A combination of rewards from Crime Stoppers and local businesses pushed the reward to $30,000 leading to Cruz's capture, NBC 4's Teresa Garcia reported.

Investigators said that Cruz, 20, shot and killed Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Brandy Winfield on Thursday morning.

Winfield was found dead in his sheriff's cruiser, which had been found upside-down in a ravine. He was reportedly shot.

According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Winfield was dispatched to state Route 423, about 6 miles south of Marion, on a report of a disabled vehicle along the road. The sheriff's office said that no vehicle or person was located at the scene.

According to the sheriff's office, Winfield encountered two men walking along S.R. 423 and was in the process of checking out the pair. One of them was carrying a gas can, authorities said. There was no further radio traffic with the deputy, the sheriff's office reported.

Authorities said Friday afternoon that they were worried that Cruz could leave the state or even the country. They said they have had many sightings of Cruz, along with plenty of physical evidence.

Winfield was a six-year veteran of the Marion County Sheriff's Office road patrol. He is survived by his wife and two children. His father and brother are officers with the Marion Police Department, according to the sheriff's office.

After a statewide alert, the suspect's vehicle was located. Authorities caught up with another suspect at about 6 a.m. and arrested him at Obee's Deli Market, where he was seen walking with a gasoline can. Another man, believed to be Cruz, fled into the woods off U.S. 23, just north of Delaware, NBC 4's Natalie Walston reported.

Winfield's viewing will be held on Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Marion County Coliseum, located at the county fairgrounds. His funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at the same location.

Donations can be made in Winfield's name at Fahey Bank in Marion.

Who wants to bet Mr. Cruz gets worked over tonight pretty good? Well, at least they got him...

tragic story

Quoted: Who wants to bet Mr. Cruz gets worked over tonight pretty good? Well, at least they got him...

No bet.


The last guy to shoot at and wound a deputy here had an accident.