Connecticut police have made an arrest in connection with a 2023 attack on a jogger, as well as a cold case from 2018 involving an alleged sexual assault with a knife.
On Oct. 12, 2023, the New Haven Police Department said it received a report just after 6:15 a.m. of an assault on a 38-year-old woman.
According to police, the alleged victim was jogging in the area of Yale and Edgewood avenues when an unknown man approached her with a firearm. The man allegedly attempted to force her into a nearby wooded area and struck her in the face, police said.
The alleged victim was able to flee the area and return home. She was treated by American Medical Response personnel at the scene for injuries allegedly sustained in the struggle, according to police.
Officers believed that man ran into Edgewood Park. Patrol officers with police dogs conducted a search for the suspect but were unable to locate him, police said.
“Special Victim’s Unit detectives responded to the scene to speak with witnesses and conduct a canvass of the area,” police said.
The case was assigned to Detective Samantha Romano, who was able to secure an arrest warrant for 25-year-old Crisleonel Cruzado of New Haven, according to police.
Cruzado was located on Friday and taken into custody on charges of first-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree breach of peace, police said.
According to police, the investigation also implicated Cruzado in a sexual assault case from December 2018. In that case, Cruzado has been charged with first-degree aggravated sexual charge for allegedly assaulting a female in the area of Chapel Street and Yale Avenue while armed with a knife.
Cruzado is currently being held on two $250,000 bonds and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.
