THURSDAY 12/9/2021 10:58 a.m.
(WFRV) – The Green Bay teenager who is facing multiple charges from an alleged assault on a De Pere trail pleaded not guilty to all counts.
According to authorities, 17-year-old Miles Cruz appeared via zoom and he waived his right to appear in person. Cruz entered a ‘Not Guilty’ plea for all counts.
There is a status conference scheduled for Feb. 11 at 10 a.m.
Local 5 will continue to update this story.
UPDATE: Motion to dismiss homicide charge in De Pere trail assault case denied, next court date Dec. 6
WEDNESDAY 11/17/2021 11:24 a.m.
(WFRV) – The Green Bay teenager who is facing multiple charges from an alleged assault on a De Pere was in court and will be held over for arraignment.
Seventeen-year-old Miles Cruz appeared in person for his preliminary hearing at a Brown County courtroom. The defense motioned for the charge of Attempted Intentional Homicide to be dismissed. The defense argued that Cruz did not intend to kill the victim.
Commissioner Paul Burke says there is probable cause that Cruz intended to kill the victim, and the motion to dismiss the charge was denied.
Cruz will be back in court on Dec. 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Local 5 will continue to update this story.
UPDATE: Green Bay teen involved in De Pere trail assault appears in court, next hearing on Nov. 17
WEDNESDAY 11/10/2021 10:50 a.m.
DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) – The teenager from Green Bay who is charged with five felonies stemming from the East River Trail attack, appeared in court on Wednesday.
Seventeen-year-old Miles Cruz appeared in a Brown County courtroom for his preliminary hearing and the defense asked for the hearing to be adjourned until Nov. 17 at 10:30 a.m.
The prosecutor reportedly agreed and there was no reason given.
Local 5 will continue to update this story as more information is released.
UPDATE: Green Bay teen charged with 5 felonies in East River Trail attack
THURSDAY 10/28/2021 4:15 p.m.
DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) – A 17-year-old Green Bay teen was charged on Thursday in connection with the East River Trail attack that left one woman injured and an entire community shaken earlier this month.
Seventeen-year-old Miles Cruz was formally charged in a Brown County circuit courtroom on Thursday with the following felonies:
- Attempted 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide
- 1st-degree Sexual Assault/Great Bodily Harm
- Kidnapping/Carry w/o Consent
- Strangulation and Suffocation
- 2nd-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety
According to the criminal complaint, on October 5, a woman and her baby were walking along the East River Trail when Cruz allegedly put a sweatshirt over the woman’s head pulling her backward and causing her to fall on the blacktop.
The woman, who was reportedly carrying her baby in a black wrap that was around her body, fought to free herself, to no avail. However, the woman says that during the struggle, she believes she was able to scratch the suspect inside his mouth and on his cheek.
The complaint states that the suspect then began choking the woman until she lost all consciousness.
After regaining consciousness, the woman realized she was in the woods without her shoes and pants, and her baby was no longer in the black wrap that was around her. The woman says the suspect, who was still reportedly on top of her, began choking her again causing her to lose consciousness for the second time.
When she regained consciousness for the second time, the woman says the suspect was gone. The woman then got up and started walking until she saw the police and her husband, who were already searching for her.
Authorities confirmed that after reporting his wife and baby missing when they didn’t return from their walk, the husband went searching for them himself and found their baby about 40-50 yards away from where the mother would later be located.
A search for the suspect quickly ensued and resulted in the Brown County Sheriff’s Office taking one teen, identified as 17-year-old Miles Cruz, into custody. Cruz is listed as a runaway and according to the complaint was seen walking along the East River Trail with a hat and blanket.
The complaint reports that before Cruz was taken into custody, officers spoke to him and noticed Cruz had dirt stains on his pants and grass remnants on his shirt and in his hair, which he stated he got from walking in the woods. Additionally, officers noticed scratches on Cruz’s arms, which Cruz said were ‘from sticks’.
A small abrasion was also reportedly found on the inside of Cruz’s cheek.
According to the complaint, DNA samples from Cruz’s sweatshirt, shirt, pants, and some of his fingers, were then extracted. The complaint reports that the results from the DNA samples taken from Cruz tie him to the incident.
Cruz is set to appear for a preliminary hearing on November 10, at 10:30 a.m. Local 5 will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as they become available.
Suspect in custody regarding East River Trail assault case in De Pere
MONDAY 10/18/2021 4: 53 p.m.
DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV)- The De Pere Police Department has released new details regarding an ongoing assault investigation.
The alleged incident originally occurred on Tuesday, October 5, where a woman was assaulted near the East River Trail.
Local Law Enforcement, alongside the State Crime Laboratory, have identified a suspect for the alleged incident. The DPP has taken the suspect into custody but is currently not releasing the individual’s name. The name is being held pending a formal charging decision from the District Attorney’s Office.
Local Law Enforcement says they will release additional information when charges have formally been filed. Local Five will update this story as new details become available.
ORIGINAL STORY: ‘This is a complex case’: De Pere Police provide update on East River Trail assault case
WEDNESDAY 10/13/2021 12:34 p.m.
DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) – The De Pere Police Department is still investigating an assault that happened on the East River Trail on Oct. 5
According to the De Pere Police Department, on Oct. 5 around 11:30 a.m., authorities responded to the East River Trail near Tenmile Drive for a missing woman. When authorities arrived they found the woman near the trail.
Authorities say that the woman was the victim of an assault and was later transported to a local hospital. The focus of the investigation is confirming the identity of the suspect. The case is reportedly ‘complex’ and the De Pere Police Department says they are continuing to work with the crime lab to process evidence.
The De Pere Police Department is asked everyone to respect the victim’s right to privacy. It was also mentioned that the victim’s actions were ‘nothing short of courageous.’
The victim is reportedly out of the hospital and recovering with family.
There was no further information provided, Local 5 will continue to update this story.
UPDATE: De Pere Police are investigating an assault on the East River Trail
DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) – The attack of a woman with her baby in broad daylight on the East River Trail in De Pere has left some community members shaken while the police try to track down the assailant.
Captain Jeremy Muraski of the De Pere Police Department said, “You should be able to walk along a city park or trail in broad daylight without having to worry about this sort of thing.”
The department said they became involved in searching for the woman after her husband called the police when she did not return from a walk with their child.
“In a situation like this, we obviously want to make sure we’re doing a thorough search for any evidence that may be located on that trail,” said Muraski.
He said they processed evidence from the scene and will likely send some to the state for analysis. They do not believe the victim knew the attacker.
“We’re certainly looking to see if we have any additional witnesses,” said Muraski. “We’ve spoken with a couple but of anyone else in that area would have any additional information we’d ask them to come forward.”
Local Five talked to De Pere community members throughout the day, one said they were not surprised saying they heard of other instances of crime on trails prior to this.
There were a few people still using the trail at dusk to walk their dogs while others say they are going to avoid the area in order to stay safe.
Muraski said, “We would advise caution. I certainly wouldn’t advise anyone walking those areas in hours of darkness and again even until we know that we have the person of interest that we’re looking for. I would definitely advise people to travel in groups.”
The department said the mother survived and the baby was not hurt.
TUESDAY 10/05/2021 3:20 p.m.
DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV)- The De Pere Police Department is investigating an assault of a woman on the East River Trail.
Police were initially called to the area after the husband of the victim called asking for help locating her because she had not returned from a walk with their baby.
Upon investigating the area, the husband discovered his baby on the trail by itself. Officers then discovered the mother who they say was around 40-50 yards away.
Officials said the woman was assaulted early in the morning on Tuesday, October 5th and authorities currently believe there was a single assailant.
The DPP said at this point in the investigation that there is no connection between the victim and the suspect.
Officers are still canvassing the area at this time and explained that part of the trail is still closed to the public.
Anyone with relevant information regarding this incident is urged to contact the De Pere Police Department (920) 339-8070. Local Five will update this story as new details become available.
ORIGINAL STORY: HAPPENING NOW: Police presence in De Pere suburb
TUESDAY 10/05/2021 1:31 p.m.
DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) – Police are in the area of an East De Pere suburb for an unknown incident.
According to the authorities, there is a police presence in the East River Trail area near East De Pere. There will be more information released around 3 p.m.
There was no further information provided at this time.
Local 5 has a reporter on the scene, and will continue to update this story.
