The suspect accused of attacking and killing a Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy inside a substation and escaping this weekend also tried fleeing from officers while handcuffed during an arrest earlier this year, records show.
Clinton Hurley and Deputy Juan Ruiz also had previously crossed paths during a separate police incident just weeks ago, according to county officials.
ABC15 obtained court records showing Hurley was arrested for stealing an all-terrain vehicle on May 9, 2021.
“During questioning (Hurley) attempted to escape while in handcuffs,” according to an officer’s account in jail booking documents. “The subject was apprehended and placed back into the patrol vehicle with no further incident.”
For the May incident, Hurley was charged with two felonies: Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation; and Escape in the Second Degree.
He was released on a $500 bond, records show.
Hurley also has a previous conviction for attempted child molestation, records show. He was released from state prison in December 2020 and was under lifetime probation.
Following his arrest this weekend, a hearing was held in Maricopa County Superior court regarding Hurley’s May case and outstanding warrants for probation violations.
The court hearing did not address the forthcoming charges related to his alleged attack on Ruiz.
At the hearing, county prosecutor Ellen Dahl asked the judge to hold Hurley non-bondable.
In addition to his probation violations and May arrest, Dahl said Hurley threatened his ex-wife and chased her in September.
The investigating deputy, in that case, was Ruiz.
“And this is really the chilling part your honor, the investigating MCSO deputy was Juan Ruiz,” Dahl said. “The same deputy who he fatally assaulted this last Saturday morning.”
Contact ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing at Dave@ABC15.com.
