Man Who Tried To Use Taser On Cop Arrested In Worcester

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester man who was arrested and charged in 2017 after grabbing a Southbridge officer's Taser weapon was arrested over the weekend, according to police.

Police spotted Dennis Cruz, 28, at a home along Esther Street on Saturday. Police said Cruz ran when he saw police, and later fought with an officer before he was arrested. Cruz was injured during his arrest, but tried to attack an officer as he was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance, police said.

In August 2017, Cruz was stopped by Southbridge police, which led to a fight where Cruz grabbed an officer's Taser, police said at the time.

"As officers attempted to tase Cruz again he was able to get his hands free and grab a Taser from one of our officers," Southbridge police sad in a news release in 2017. "Cruz then attempted to tase our officers but was unsuccessful. All officers remained on the ground violently fighting with Cruz for several minutes but were able to finally get the Taser from him and Cruz was eventually secured in handcuffs."

Cruz was charged in connection to that incident, but was later released from jail. He has been wanted on multiple warrants in local towns — and in Connecticut — ever since. After his arrest on Saturday, Cruz was charged with assault and battery on an officer, resisting arrest and being a fugitive from justice.