On December 18, 2021, at around 6:39pm Parsons officers were dispatched to the Cardinal Villas in the 1400 block of Broadway for a report of a vehicle burglary.

The caller told dispatch that the suspect was a white male and was currently in the dumpsters behind Pump-N-Pete's. Officers arrived and located the described suspect in the dumpsters and detained him during the investigation.

Officers discovered that the victim had his vehicle broken into in the parking lot of the Cardinal Villas and was notified through his phone of the use of his debit card at the neighboring Pump-N-Pete's. The victim knew he left his wallet in his vehicle.  When the victim went to the store to inquire why his card was just used for the exact amount that was sent to him, the cashier pointed out a man that was leaving the store as the victim was entering. They noticed that the man had left the store and went to the dumpsters as they called the police.

Roy Vincent Cruz Jr., 41 of Parsons, was arrested by Sergeant Brice Dickens. During the arrest Cruz punched Dickens in the abdomen. Cruz was eventually taken into custody and charges are being requested through the Labette County Attorney's Office for Burglary, Theft, Criminal Use of a Financial Card Interference with Law Enforcement, Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Trafficking Contraband in a Correctional Facility. While officers searched Cruz after his arrest, they located the stolen wallet and debit card that was used at the store. Roy was also found to have a baggie of a white crystalline substance in his wallet while he was being processed into the jail. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks said, "This time of year always has an increase in theft cases nationwide and Parsons is no different. I am thankful that this young man was able to get an alert quickly though this phone and bring this case to a decisive end. This suspect was found with the stolen items still on his person and fought with my officers all the while holding on to illegal narcotics. I think that he should enjoy all of what the judicial system has to offer him. I can be sympathetic to people that have needs and end up in a life of crime, but when you assault one of my officers, I don't have any sympathy left. Put your hands behind your back and do what the nice officer says. If you are innocent prove it in a court of law, that is how this is supposed to work."

This continues to be an on-going investigation and citizens are encouraged to "See It, Hear It, Report It." If anyone has any further information on this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact the Parsons Police Department at 421-7060 or call the Tip Line at 421-7057 or email at tips@parsonspd.com.

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