Reward Increased to $12,500 for Texas Fugitive

AUSTIN – The reward for Omar Cruz, 31, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive and this month’s featured fugitive, has been increased to $12,500 for information leading to his capture if the tip comes in during the month of July. Cruz is wanted for aggravated sexual assault of a child and forgery of a financial instrument. All tips are guaranteed to be anonymous.

Cruz’s last known address was in Amarillo, and he also has ties to the Rio Grande Valley area and Mexico. In July 2014, the Potter County Sheriff's Office issued warrants for Cruz’s arrest for two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than 14. His criminal history includes burglary of a habitation, unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlawful carrying weapon. For more information or updates in the event of his arrest, see his wanted bulletin at:http://www.dps.texas.gov/Texas10MostWanted/fugitiveDetails.aspx?id=266.

Cruz is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds. He has tattoos on his right leg and scars on his back, left wrist and right hand. Cruz has previously worked in restaurants and the landscaping field.

One offender from the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program is featured each month in hopes the higher reward money from the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division will generate additional tips. The higher reward amount will only be paid if the tip comes in the same month the fugitive is featured. All calls, texts, emails and Facebook tip messages are anonymous.

To be eligible for the cash rewards, there are five different ways to provide anonymous tips:

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Text the letters DPS – followed by your tip – to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone.
• Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about, and then clicking on the link under their picture.
• Submit a Facebook tip at http://www.facebook.com/texas10mostwanted by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section).
• Submit a tip through the DPS Mobile App. The app is currently available for iPhone users on the Apple App Store: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/texas-dps/id902092368?mt=8) and for Android users on Google Play: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microassist.texasdps&hl=en).

All tips are anonymous – regardless of how they are submitted.

DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive and Sex Offender lists. You can find the current lists – with photos – on the DPS website at http://www.dps.texas.gov/texas10mostwanted/.

Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.