AUSTIN – Jesse Cruz Jr., 49, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender, is now in custody after being captured on August 27 in San Antonio. Cruz was wanted for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. The arrest was the result of tip information, and a reward up to $3,000 will be paid.
Working off tip information, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division (CID), San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office located and arrested Cruz without incident at a San Antonio residence. In 1993, Cruz was convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact after an incident in Bexar County involving a 12-year-old girl. He subsequently was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
So far in 2015, DPS and other agencies have arrested 23 Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives and Sex Offenders, including 17 sex offenders, and $56,500 in rewards have been paid for tips that resulted in arrests.
To be eligible for the cash rewards, there are four different ways to provide anonymous tips:
- Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
- Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about, and then clicking on the link under their picture.
- Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section).
- Submit a tip through the DPS Mobile App. The app is currently available for iPhone users on the Apple App Store and for Android users on Google Play.
All tips are anonymous – regardless of how they are submitted.
DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive and Sex Offender lists. You can find the current lists – with photos – on the DPS website.
Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.
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