Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Rony F. Cruz, 34, was arrested yesterday after allegedly pulling door handles at an apartment complex.

At about 8 p.m. on January 11, two women told a Gainesville Police Department officer that Cruz followed them into Monarch Apartments (1235 NW 5th Avenue) and then they saw him pulling on “numerous” apartment door handles in an attempt to enter apartments. They said they called 911 because his actions seemed extremely suspicious.

The witnesses said they followed Cruz when he left the building and saw him pull on the exterior door handle of Theory Apartments (505 NW 13th Street), but he could not enter that building.

Post Miranda, Cruz reportedly did not want to answer any questions.

Crux has been charged with attempted burglary. His address is listed as Bronx, NY, but he has been in Gainesville since at least May and is listed as homeless in court documents. He has a criminal history in Georgia for theft. He was arrested in May after he was found on the back porch of a residence and was also suspected of breaking into a neighboring residence; he entered into a deferred prosecution agreement on a charge of trespassing but did not successfully complete it and was sentenced to a fine of $376 in December. He has paid the fine.

Judge Craig DeThomasis set bail at $5,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.