There could be a small family reunion in the Santa Clara County
Jail as Luis Cruz, 20, joined his parents there early Friday
morning after officers arrested and charged with committing lewd or
lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.
Morgan Hill – There could be a small family reunion in the Santa Clara County Jail as Luis Cruz, 20, joined his parents there early Friday morning after officers arrested and charged with committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.

The latest Cruz family arrest was not related to the Tuesday morning arrests of his parents and tenant at the home where they lived, but was a separate incident which began Thursday afternoon.

Officers were investigating what was initially reported as a kidnapping. The situation turned out to be something quite different, according to Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing.

An 11-year-old Gilroy girl went into a Taco Bell restaurant and reported she had been kidnapped and had escaped from her kidnappers. As officers interviewed her, they were puzzled by her demeanor, which seemed unusual for a kidnap victim.

“She appeared outwardly calm, not crying, not upset, not what we would expect from an 11-year-old that had escaped from kidnappers,” he said.

Officers continued to investigate the situation back at the police station, talking more with the girl and with friends and family members. She had been reported as a runaway, and officers began to see the real picture.

Swing said the girl allegedly met Cruz at a party at his house over the weekend.

“They had talked on the telephone,” Swing said, “and he apparently brought her to his house consentually.”

The girl denied having sex with Cruz, he said, but samples were taken for testing. She did admit to necking with Cruz and hickeys were found on her throat and upper chest, according to Swing.

Cruz was arrested at approximately midnight, without incident, after officers found him sleeping in his car outside the Cruz residence, Swing said.

Officers then searched the house, looking for evidence the girl was in the home. Swing said he could not comment at this time on evidence found at the home.

Cruz’s parents, Bonifacio Cruz and Laura Cruz, were arrested Tuesday morning after their home was searched by Morgan Hill Police officers and members of the Unified Narcotic Enforcement Team (UNET).

Drugs, guns and a large amount of cash were found, and the couple plus a tenant, Victorino Morales, 38, were arrested on drug-related charges.

Luis Cruz and his two brothers were not arrested in the incident. A 15-year-old was taken into protective custody; 18-year-old Eusebio Cruz was released pending further investigations.

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