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Ice agents arrest alleged violent suspect near SLO County courthouse

July 6, 2025

Ismael Garcia Cruz

By KAREN VELIE

Following media reports that a man was plucked off the streets of San Luis Obispo by ICE agents even though he was an upstanding resident of the county, SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow released information regarding the suspect’s violent criminal history.

The Tribune reported it was not releasing the suspect’s name to protect his family’s privacy, an action that also left the public unaware of 34-year-old Ismael Garcia Cruz’s criminal past. Dow said he does not know what prompted ICE agents to detain Garcia Cruz outside the courthouse on July 2.

“The Tribune report stated, ‘A longtime San Luis Obispo County resident who was born in Mexico was walking back to his car after a misdemeanor court hearing Wednesday when he was plucked off the streets of SLO by immigration agents,'” Dow wrote. “This characterization does not accurately provide the individual’s criminal history for context so that the public may be aware of facts from which to analyze and decide for themselves whether or not the alleged detention by ICE is appropriate.”

Born in Mexico, it is unclear when Garcia Cruz first arrived in the United States.

In 2016, the Tribune first wrote wrote about Garcia Cruz in an article titled, “Sheriff’s Office says it disrupted meth ring tied to Mexican cartels.” Following a three-month investigation, deputies arrested nine people with alleged ties to Mexican drug cartels.

In the end, three felony charges were dropped against the then 22-year-old Garcia Cruz, who pleaded no contest to possession of a controlled substance.

Responding to a report of a fight on Spring Street in Paso Robles on Oct. 1, 2024, officers arrived to find a frightened woman who said her former boyfriend, Garcia Cruz, had abused her. The violence allegedly began in Aug. 2024, when Garcia Cruz pushed a knife against his girlfriend in a jealous rage while saying, “I’m going to end your life,” according to the police report.

The girlfriend tried to run away, but Garcia Cruz chased her and threw her down on her back, according to the police report. Garcia Cruz allegedly began chocking the victim. He stopped when someone walking by said they were going to call the police.

Even though the couple had separated, Garcia Cruz went to her work on Oct. 1, 2024 and stole her phone. She then went to Garcia Cruz’s home in Paso Robles and asked for her phone back.

After she went in the house, Garcia Cruz allegedly pushed, slapped and hit her. The next day, she grabbed her phone and ran out of Garcia Cruz’s home towards Anthony’s Tire Store on Spring Street.

Garcia Cruz chased and pushed the screaming woman. A bystander called 911.

Officers arrested Garcia Cruz for domestic assault and battery against an intimate partner. The court issued a protective order barring Garcia Cruz from contacting his former girlfriend.

He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 20 days in the SLO County Jail and placed on three years formal probation.

After he was released from jail, on Nov. 30, 2024, Garcia Cruz sat inside the car of a man who was at his former girlfriend’s apartment, according to the police report. When the man left the apartment, Garcia Cruz ordered him to hand over his phone and wallet and pointed to a bump under his coat, which the man thought was a gun.

Garcia Cruz told the man if he did not obey, he would take him to the hills and make sure he did not walk again. The man gave Garcia Cruz his wallet and phone.

Garcia Cruz used the phone to call his former girlfriend. He then ordered her to come outside or he would harm the man, according to the police report. Instead, she called law enforcement.

Officers arrested Garcia Cruz for robbery and violating a restraining order.

As part of a plea agreement, the charges were reduced to a misdemeanor. The court sentenced Garcia Cruz to 108 days in SLO County Jail.

Garcia Cruz was placed on formal domestic violence probation for three years beginning July 2, the same day ICE agents picked him up and moved him to an ICE detention facility.

 


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This guy is perfect for California. Drama ! Drama ! Drama ! He knowns what women want .


-30

Gosh, according to other reports by local news outlets that do not have an actual office here in the county, I was led to believe he was lead Choir boy, even sang Soprano because he was so innocent. His loving family, also illegally here, is totally destitute and already have been thrown out of their 1 room cardboard hovel, left to survive on the rugged streets of California without their dear, dear father and husband…


…or, some such BS.


108

He’s sure to be singing Soprano now..!


23

“As part of a plea agreement, the charges were reduced to a misdemeanor”, for robbery and violating a restraining order?


Are you kidding me?


122

So was the guy a legal resident or not? If he’s illegal, deport him. Fine. But if he’s here legally, it sounds like we failed the woman by not being more proactive about the guy. Who’s the DA? Oh, wait a minute. Never mind.


40

Dow can only bring forth recommended charges. The prosecutor and defense will go back and forth to increase or decrease those charges. The Judge can (and has) decide which charges he will allow. The Jury is informed on which charges they will decide.


So, Dow can recommend the Death Penalty. The Judge and Jury can whittle that down to time served.


Oh, and be aware, that the DA’s office is chock full of leftist Deputy DA’s that love nothing more than BLM activists, illegal aliens, and drug addicted fraudulent grifters.


Trust me, I was the targeted victim of a Deputy DA’s one woman quest for “social justice”.


5

The Poster Child for ICE and why it’s necessary.


94

What’s up with these prosecutors handing out ridiculous plea deals and the judges endorsing them? Good job ICE for getting this thug off the street. Next stop should be Alligator Alcatraz!


96

Dow and Parkinson feel more kinship with democrats in Sacramento than keeping these thugs out of our communities


-3

I literally just spit out my drink when I read this BAHAHAHA


-7

We need a battalion if ice working this county removing these this. So so many of these people in our communities, a real shame that Parkinson refuses to turn them over to ice to better protect the citizens


63

It seems, like usual, CCN did their investigative homework and that is meant as a compliment.


93

What are the upstanding details?


20

The only one required, he votes for Democrats


38

You’ll have to ask the anti-ICE, open borders, pro-International Criminal Trespasser, pro-illicit drug, domestic abuse apologizing, Mexican Cartel enabling Democrats how exactly Ismael Garcia Cruz was an “upstanding citizen” of SLO County. He was probably one of Obama’s “Dreamers”, so they should know.


70

The one dreamer I happen to know has been here since he was 3 years old. He rivaled my daughter in school in friendly student of the month awards. He nipped her by one award. He since went to Cal Poly, earned an advanced degree, and has invested his money into a local business. He employs US citizens and contributes greatly to our community.


His parents were not on food stamps, nor any other assistance. They worked 7 days a week to support their family. As do most of our immigrants.


Your assumptions about dreamers is telling, and incorrect. And you would still gladly deport him.

I would wonder what motivates you, but I suspect I already know.


-32

Just mention it for what it is: RACISM.


-47

What specific race is “illegal alien”?


7

Thank you for sharing one of your irrelevant anecdotal stories that proves nothing. One outlier story on the bell curve of millions of Illegals who intentionally violated American sovereignty and showed criminal intent in ignoring our immigration laws is unconvincing, no matter how warm and fuzzy it makes liberals feel. A key piece of information you omitted about the achieving Dreamer and his parents was whether he and his parents ever tried to legitimize their illegal entry into the United States by getting properly & legally processed by the INS and by becoming naturalized citizens.


5

You side only consumes anecdotal evidence, so I thought you would appreciate it. I can list statistics for you, but they tend to make those here angry.


There hasn’t been a pathway, in the manner you outlined, available for decades.


-7
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