Man arrested by SWAT team for robbery, burglary

Spokane’s SWAT team arrested a convicted felon who police believed was armed in north Spokane Thursday evening.

Vincent A. Cruz, 50, was wanted on suspicion of armed robbery and burglary for two separate incidents. Police learned around 10 p.m. Thursday that Cruz was in a home in the 3800 block of East Pacific. Major Crimes detectives and the SWAT team surrounded the home and arrested Cruz.

Cruz is suspected of breaking into the Kalico Kitchen at 2931 N. Division Street on June 19 and stealing a safe. He was identified from surveillance video, according to court documents. Cruz is also suspected of robbing a man of his wallet and cellphone at gunpoint in the 3900 block of East Pacific Avenue on Sept. 18. The victim told police the robber was wearing a brown wig, according to court documents.

When police searched Cruz’s home they found two wigs, one of them brown, and an airsoft pistol that was so realistic an officer thought it was real until he picked it up, according to court documents.

Neighbors reportedly told police that the home in the 3800 block of East Pacific where Cruz was arrested has been a “problem house” in the neighborhood.