GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Green Bay man is facing multiple charges after threatening to kill his estranged wife earlier this month.
36-year-old Elias Ruiz Jr. is facing four counts including second-degree recklessly endangering safety and disorderly conduct. Both of those counts have domestic abuse enhancers.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim went to the Green Bay Police Department on April 15 to report an incident with her husband earlier in the day.
The woman explained that she and Ruiz have been married for 14 years, but separated about 7 months ago. They both had gone to a local business in the same vehicle and began to argue about possibly getting back together.
She got upset and ended up leaving to go home. Ruiz called her on the phone and wanted to talk some more and that his truck was still at her house. When Ruiz got into her vehicle, he began yelling at her and pulled a folding knife out of his pocket.
Scared for her life, she was told to drive to his house. Ruiz was ordered out of the vehicle, but he said, “No we need to talk.” The victim got out of the vehicle and started running away. A neighbor witnessed the altercation and called 911.
After taking her statement, police went to Ruiz’s house. They spoke with the neighbor who called the cops and got a statement from them. One of the officers spotted Ruiz poke his head outside of his front door. They then went to his house and arrested Ruiz without incident.
Elias Ruiz is also currently facing charges of criminal damage to property, entry into a locked vehicle, theft, resisting/obstructing an officer and 5th offense operating while revoked. He’s due to be sentenced in those cases on June 13.
For the domestic violence case, Ruiz is due back in court on May 10 for a preliminary hearing. If convicted on those charges, he faces over 15 years in prison.
