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By Tom Collins
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 3, 1996
A school psychologist in the Safford Unified School District was arrested by Tucson police last week on charges of sexual abuse and assault stemming from three separate incidents near the UA.Jorge Ruiz, 31, a Safford resident, was booked on one charge of felony sexual abuse and two charges of misdemeanor assault, said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.
A woman reported having her breasts grabbed by a man on a bicycle Oct. 19 at North Columbus Avenue and East Speedway Boulevard, Mejia said.
In a separate incident, Mejia said Ruiz was identified Oct. 20 as the man who grabbed another woman's buttocks while he was riding a bicycle near North Mountain Avenue and East Grant Road. The woman's boyfriend caught Ruiz and held him until police arrived, Mejia said.
A third woman reported having her buttocks grabbed by a man on a bicycle, but Mejia said he did not know when this incident occurred.
Ruiz was photographed, and his picture was placed in a line-up in which two other victims identified him, Mejia said.
Mejia said the two misdemeanor charges stemmed from Ruiz allegedly grabbing the women's buttocks, and the sexual abuse charge stemmed from him allegedly grabbing the woman's breasts. He said the charges differ because they apply to different parts of the body.
Ruiz came to TPD headquarters the afternoon of Nov. 26 and was served with a warrant, Mejia said. Ruiz was arraigned Wednesday, Mejia said.
Mark Tregaskes, superintendent for the Safford County School District, said Ruiz was hired by the school district in July. Ruiz's job as psychologist was to evaluate students' learning needs, including identifying learning disabilities and behavioral disorders.
Ruiz was placed on leave pending an investigation, Tregaskes said.
Tregaskes said there had been no previous complaints about Ruiz.
University of Arizona Police Lt. Brian Seastone said UAPD is reviewing several cases that involved similar circumstances and may have involved Ruiz.
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