Deputy Sheriff Juan Miguel Ruiz

Officer: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Sheriff Juan Miguel Ruiz

Date: 10/11/2021        Location: Avondale, AZ         FACTORS (1,2,12,14)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Clinton Robert Hurley

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Hurley had multiple felony warrants and served 10 years for “attempt to commit child molestation.” /Yes, Hurley had just been arrested for an outstanding parole warrant and was being processed at the Sheriff’s Office District 2 substation.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. /None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/30

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At approximately 10:55 a.m. October 9, 2021, after processing the arrest of Clinton Robert Hurley inside the substation, Deputy Sheriff Miguel Ruiz removed Hurley’s handcuffs as he put him in a holding cell.

Actions taken by subject toward police: Hurley physically assaulted Deputy Ruiz, striking him in the face during the ensuing fight and ultimately knocking him unconscious. Deputy Ruiz never regained consciousness and was removed from life support two days later. After fatally assaulting the deputy, Hurley took the deputy’s SUV to flee the area whereupon he stole another vehicle and drove to Tonopah, AZ.

Reactions by the police: Law enforcement agencies across the state were searching for Hurley when they responded to a 911 call around 6:30 p.m. later that day in Tonopah that a homeowner had shot a man during an attempted home invasion. That man ended up being Hurley, he was taken to the hospital for medical attention and arrested.

How murdered? Deputy Ruiz was beaten to death while processing a subject for an arrest.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Whenever possible, subjects under arrest should always be processed by at least two officers. Officers should treat every arrestee as a person capable of violence at all times, only relaxing once the arrestee has been secured in their jail cell.

Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Yes, if Deputy Ruiz was not incapacitated by Hurley’s first strike, the deputy would have been justified to use his duty weapon (which is typically stored while processing an arrest), asp baton, radio, flashlight, pepper spray, knife, or any other object to strike/subdue Hurley. Deputy Ruiz reportedly tried to call for help on his radio during the struggle with Hurley, so Ruiz would have been justified to strike Hurley in the head with that radio

Outcome for the cop-killer: Hurley was arrested and faces multiple charges including murder.