Mental evaluation ordered for alleged stalker

All criminal actions against a man accused of stalking and threatening a woman were halted today, June 4, when his attorney suggested the alleged stalker might not be mentally competent.

Bryan Cruz, 27, previously pleaded not guilty to two felonies, stalking and threatening a woman identified as “Kimberly.” The offenses allegedly occurred on December 19, 2017. Public records state that Cruz was taken into custody two weeks later, on January 5, 2018.

Cruz, who looks older than his 27 years, is described in Sheriff’s records as 5 feet 4 inches tall and 230 pounds. He is held in lieu of $251,000 bail.

Today, private defense counsel Gregory Garrison informed judge Blaine Bowman that after several meetings with his client, it was his opinion there was need for a mental competency evaluation. Judge Bowman immediately suspended all criminal proceedings and set a date of July 17 for the mental assessment. Cruz will be back in court on August 8 for a different judge to consider the results of that evaluation.

Public records show that Cruz has a prior, misdemeanor vandalism charge against him.

If the mental competency hearing was not requested this morning, Cruz would have sat through a prelminary hearing today, during which evidence and details of his alleged crimes would have been revealed in open court.