A Carl Junction man who has been convicted of driving while intoxicated twice and is awaiting trial on two other DWI charges, was charged Monday in Newton County Circuit Court with DWI, tampering with a motor vehicle, driving while revoked, attempting escape and resisting arrest, all felonies, and three misdemeanor assault charges.
Bond was set at $10,000 for Cruz Humberto Lopez (DOB 1991). A bond reduction hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 14.
From the probable cause statement:
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, at approximately 1640 hours, I was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash in Newton County, Missouri, on Jaguar Road near Junco Trail Drive.At 1652 hours, I arrived on scene and observed an Infiniti QX52 sport utility vehicle crashed off the south side of Jaguar Road. The vehicle appeared to have traveled off the curved roadway and struck a
tree. The driver, later identified as Cruz Humberto Lopez was being evaluated by EMS in an ambulance.
tree. The driver, later identified as Cruz Humberto Lopez was being evaluated by EMS in an ambulance.
While speaking with Lopez, I detected the strong odor commonly associated with an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person. Lopez's eyes were bloodshot and watery, his speech was slurred, and he became belligerent with me and EMS personnel. Lopez refused to submit to standardized field sobriety testing.
Based on my training and experience, I believed Lopez was intoxicated and impaired by alcohol to a degree that rendered him incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle. At 1706 hours, I placed Lopez under arrest. Lopez was violent and uncooperative and refused to be placed into my patrol vehicle.
Lopez was ultimately secured in the caged area of a Newton County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle. The owner of the crashed vehicle, vehicle, reported the vehicle had been stolen and advised she had not given Lopez permission to operate or possess her vehicle.
Lopez was ultimately secured in the caged area of a Newton County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle. The owner of the crashed vehicle, vehicle, reported the vehicle had been stolen and advised she had not given Lopez permission to operate or possess her vehicle.
A computer inquiry of Lopez's Missouri operator status revealed his driver's license was revoked with ten active revocations and suspensions listed.
While I continued the crash investigation, Lopez exited the patrol vehicle and began walking away from the scene. At the time Lopez exited the patrol vehicle, he was under arrest and in lawful custody. Without authorization, Lopez exited the patrol vehicle and attempted to leave the scene on foot before being detained again.
While I continued the crash investigation, Lopez exited the patrol vehicle and began walking away from the scene. At the time Lopez exited the patrol vehicle, he was under arrest and in lawful custody. Without authorization, Lopez exited the patrol vehicle and attempted to leave the scene on foot before being detained again.
After being detained, Lopez physically resisted officers in an attempt to prevent his detention and arrest. While being placed back into the patrol vehicle, Lopez kicked Deputy (name redacted) on the right arm, causing physical pain, and head-butted Deputy (name redacted) on the right arm, causing physical pain, and head-butted Deputy (name redacted) above the left eyebrow causing physical pain.
Lopez intentionally spit on Deputy and Deputy Trooper assisted in restraining Lopez and was also intentionally spat upon by Lopez.
While being transported to Freeman Hospital in Neosho for medical evaluation prior to incarceration, Deputies stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 49 southbound at mile marker 30.2 due to Lopez's violent behavior.
During transport, Lopez mule-kicked the doors inside the patrol vehicle. Lopez was subsequently transported to the hospital in the Newton County jail transport van.
At the hospital, I read Lopez Missouri Implied Consent and he refused to provide a sample of his blood for chemical analysis.
Lopez's behavior became increasingly volatile with law enforcement and hospital staff, and he had to be subdued multiple times.
After being deemed fit for confinement, Lopez was transported by the Newton County jail transport van to the Newton County Jail for incarceration. I placed Lopez on a 24-hour investigative hold pending formal charges by the Newton County Prosecutor's Office.
A computer inquiry into Lopez's criminal history and driving record revealed two prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, one prior driving while intoxicated offense that resulted in a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS), and two prior driving while intoxicated arrests that remain pending:
A) Lopez was arrested by the Joplin Police Department on June 18, 2010, for Driving While Intoxicated and received a guilty disposition with a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) on March 2, 2011.
B) Lopez was arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff's Office on April 2, 2011, for Driving While Intoxicated and was convicted on March 20, 2012.
At the hospital, I read Lopez Missouri Implied Consent and he refused to provide a sample of his blood for chemical analysis.
Lopez's behavior became increasingly volatile with law enforcement and hospital staff, and he had to be subdued multiple times.
After being deemed fit for confinement, Lopez was transported by the Newton County jail transport van to the Newton County Jail for incarceration. I placed Lopez on a 24-hour investigative hold pending formal charges by the Newton County Prosecutor's Office.
A computer inquiry into Lopez's criminal history and driving record revealed two prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, one prior driving while intoxicated offense that resulted in a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS), and two prior driving while intoxicated arrests that remain pending:
A) Lopez was arrested by the Joplin Police Department on June 18, 2010, for Driving While Intoxicated and received a guilty disposition with a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) on March 2, 2011.
B) Lopez was arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff's Office on April 2, 2011, for Driving While Intoxicated and was convicted on March 20, 2012.
C) Lopez was arrested by the Newton County Sheriff's Office on June 25, 2011, for Driving While Intoxicated and was convicted on September 4, 2012.
D) Lopez was arrested by the Joplin Police Department on September 20, 2023, for Driving While Intoxicated - Aggravated. A computer inquiry revealed no listed disposition and the case appears to remain pending.
E) Lopez was arrested in Jasper County, Missouri, on August 24, 2024, for Driving While Intoxicated. The case was subsequently charged as Driving While Intoxicated - Aggravated. A computer inquiry revealed no listed disposition and the case appears to remain pending.
The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
1 comment:
There definitely should not be any bond reduction for this alcoholic, who cannot and will not control his behaviors. It would appear, that the only time he is not out drinking and driving is when he is incarcerated. That’s where he needs to be for the safety of society.
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