Location: 15900 Block of Citrus Avenue, Ivanhoe
Incident Date: 09-08-2016
Incident Time: 1019 hours
Case Number: 16-11335
Victim: Undisclosed Adults & State of California
City: Ivanhoe
Posted by: Dispatch
On Thursday, 9-08-16, at about 10:19 am, detective personnel responded to an address at the 15900 block of Citrus Avenue in Ivanhoe as part of an on-going theft investigation to potentially recover stolen property. During that time, a subject, later identified as Alejandro Ruiz, 31, a and a validated gang member, was seen running from the backyard of the residence in possession of a handgun.
Ruiz pointed his handgun at a detective from a distance then turned and ran the opposite direction through several neighboring backyards. As Ruiz fled on foot, he fired his weapon twice in a negligent manner. On one of those occasions, it is believed he shot an adult canine belonging to a home owner a few houses away on Citrus Avenue.
Ruiz then managed to enter a residence a couple more houses down the same street and encountered an adult female holding her young child in her arms. Through fear and by brandishing a firearm, Ruiz stole car keys from the woman holding her child and exited the residence. He ran to the vehicle parked in front of the home and stole it.
In doing this, he sped away through the community of Ivanhoe, and ended up in the northern part of the City of Visalia. As Tulare County Sheriff’s deputies were searching for Ruiz and the stolen vehicle, allied agencies from the Visalia and Exeter Police Departments, as well as air support from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search.
In a short period of time, Ruiz was spotted in the vehicle in northern Visalia and he pointed his weapon at pursuing law enforcement officers. The pursuit went through various parts of Visalia and then back into the Community of Ivanhoe where he was ultimately apprehended in the area of Jasmine Avenue and Road 156.
There were no shots fired from law enforcement during the entire event, however a couple allied agency vehicles sustained some damage during Ruiz’ capture. Sheriff’s personnel recovered a stolen item from the residence on Citrus, as well as the firearm Ruiz possessed during the incident in the vehicle.
The canine that Ruiz is believed to have shot was taken to an area Veterinary Clinic for a gunshot wound and is expected to make a full recovery. The stolen vehicle was later released back to its owner.
Ruiz was medically cleared at an area hospital for minor self-inflicted injuries while fleeing through residential yards and booked into the Adult Pre-Trial Facility for a host of charges, including but not limited to: home invasion/robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment, shooting a firearm in negligent manner, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, gang injunction violation, evading a peace officer, brandishing a firearm, and for being combative upon law enforcement during capture.
Ruiz has no bail set until his upcoming arraignment hearing. Ruiz is a resident of the Ivanhoe area.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218 or send anonymous information by sending a text or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or call (559) 725-4194.