The surreal reason why Breaking Bad’s Tuco ended up in a police car in Los Angeles
The 60-year-old actor, who was washing his car in his front yard, lost his temper with a young local girl.
If you look closely into Raymond Cruz’s eyes, you can still see in his feline gaze the madness of Tuco Salamanca, the Mexican meth dealer who, based in Albuquerque, linked the Juárez Cartel to one of TV’s most popular duos: Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. That was fiction. In reality, many Breaking Bad fans will have thought of that role when they read that Cruz has been arrested.
The California-born actor was detained by Los Angeles police following an altercation near his home. Although he has already been released and no charges have been filed, the episode – first reported by TMZ – has caused a stir across the US.
Here’s Tuco in action...
What got Raymond Cruz in trouble?
According to the outlet, a neighbor called police after his daughter shared a strange account: Cruz was washing his car in the yard when the young woman parked nearby. He asked her to leave. When she ignored him, he turned the garden hose on her, spraying water – not bullets – in her direction. The neighbor reported the alleged assault, and within minutes police cars had surrounded Cruz’s home.
The bizarre incident ended with the actor in the back of an LAPD cruiser. TMZ notes the most likely outcome is that the city attorney will dismiss the case, issue Cruz a warning, and, since this is considered a minor offense, perhaps require only a brief office hearing. At worst, he could be ordered to attend an anger management course.
It seems unlikely the matter will go further. After all, the “crime” in question was soaking someone with a hose – a long way from the brutal violence Salamanca unleashed in the New Mexico desert.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.