Find Glendale Man With Guns & Drugs
An alleged Glendale drug runner remains locked up on high bail after police found several guns and a heroin stash in his possession last week, law enforcement sources said.
Raymond A. Cruz, 44, of Central Avenue appeared in Queens Criminal Court last Thursday, Mar. 27, to answer to multiple weapon and drug possession charges after being arrested two days earlier at his apartment.
According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, Cruz was cuffed sometime after 9:30 a.m. last Tuesday, Mar. 25, at the residence on Central Avenue near 67th Street.
Reportedly, 104th Precinct officers visited the location as part of an investigation and observed Cruz walking with something bulging out of his right pants pocket.
The bulge turned out to be a .357- caliber Ruger revolver contained in a holster which police recovered from Cruz’s pants, authorities noted. The weapon was reportedly loaded with seven rounds of ammunition-two of which had hollow point tips that can penetrate bulletproof vests.
Additional bullets were found in an open bag located five feet from where Cruz was searched, law enforcement sources added.
Police also found in Cruz’s pants over $8,000 in cash-believed to be the proceeds of recent drug sales- and 15 glassine bags of heroin.
In executing a full search of Cruz’s residence later that day, authorities noted, officers located a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun from a jacket hung in a closet.
The weapon was reportedly located with four rounds in a magazine.
Three methadone bottles were also located inside a refrigerator, the criminal complaint noted.
According to the criminal complaint, Cruz allegedly admitted to acting as a drug runner.
Cruz was taken into custody by P.O. Edwin Diaz of the 104th Precinct on charges of second- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-, fifth- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, prosecutors noted.
During last Thursday’s arraignment hearing, as noted in court records, Queens Criminal Court Judge Donna M. Golia ordered Cruz held on $75,000 bond or $37,500 cash bail, which was not posted as this paper went to press Wednesday, Apr. 2.
The suspect is scheduled to return to court on Apr. 9.
