TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Jose Cruz, 22, of Beacon, was arrested again by the Dutchess County Drug Task Force, while carrying a loaded handgun in his waistband on Monday, April 15, 2024. Cruz had been arrested on March 25 in Hyde Park, on gun and drug charges. Following the arraignment on the March gun and drug charges, he was released on March 28 under the New York State Bail Reform laws. Following his release, an investigation revealed that he resumed his illegal drug business.
Task force agents, according to Detective Sergeant Adam Harris, learned that Cruz had immediately started to sell fentanyl again and was possibly armed with a handgun. Agents made several more purchases of fentanyl from Cruz. On Monday, task force agents, assisted by Dutchess County Sheriff’s deputies, Town of Poughkeepsie detectives, and City of Poughkeepsie cops took Cruz into custody on Main Street in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
Cruz was armed with a loaded 9 mm “ghost gun” at the time of his arrest.
Cruz was charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon with multiple narcotics-related charges pending against him. Cruz was arraigned in the Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail without bail.
If anyone has information regarding this case or about any other individuals selling drugs in Dutchess County, you are urged to contact the Drug Task Force confidential tip line at 845-463-6040 or by sending an email to DrugTaskForceTips@gmail.com
