Breaking Bad star Raymond Cruz arrested after ‘spraying neighbour with garden hose’

Raymond Cruz, the actor famed for his portrayal of the unpredictable Tuco Salamanca in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has been taken into custody by Los Angeles police on Monday in connection with an alleged misdemeanor battery incident.

The 60-year-old actor, who also appeared as Sniper in the 2001 crime drama Training Day, was reportedly involved in a confrontation outside his Silverlake home in Los Angeles. According to a source close to Raymond, the incident began while Cruz was washing his vehicle early Monday morning.

An individual contacted authorities claiming that Cruz had sprayed their daughter with water from a garden hose. Raymond’s representative has since denied these claims.

However, source close to the situation told The Mirror that Cruz had asked a woman who had parked behind him to move her vehicle when she turned up outside his house. After asking the women to leave his home, the source added that the women allegedly turned frustrated and starting filming the successful actor.

They then called the police after claiming that Cruz had turned the hose on them with the complainant insisting that the action was deliberate, despite him washing his car.

Cruz was taken to a local Los Angeles police station, where he was processed on suspicion of misdemeanor battery.

Speaking to The Mirror, the insider said: “Raymond was outside his home washing his car. He is a very respected member of the community and he has resided there for over 25 years. On Monday, there was a car outside his home that he did not recognise.

“He initially thought they were three cleaning ladies inside of the vehicle because there was a lot of house cleaning stuff in it. It was parked only an inch away from his bumper – and this was right in front of his house by the way – and he asked them to please move the car so it didn’t get wet.

“They refused,” the source added. “Then they started also taping him so they recognised him. He asked them to please stop taping him and he continued washing his car and next thing you know they call the police and they filed a citizen’s arrest and accused him of spraying them deliberately with water and he has been in jail since.”

“This is someone who is a well-known Hollywood actor who has lived in that community for over 25 years and has never ever had a problem with the law,” the source continued.

Law enforcement insiders indicated that the Los Angeles City Attorney would likely review the case to determine whether criminal charges would be pursued. As of Monday afternoon, no formal charges had yet been filed.

This arrest marks a rare brush with the law for Cruz, who has spent decades in the entertainment industry building a reputation for intense, often villainous roles.

His portrayal of Tuco Salamanca, a violent and unpredictable drug dealer in the Breaking Bad franchise, earned him critical acclaim and solidified his status as a cult fan favourite.

Cruz has also appeared in multiple film and television projects over the years, including Training Day, further cementing his profile as a versatile character actor.

Legal experts note that misdemeanor battery cases in California often hinge on whether prosecutors can prove intent and whether physical harm occurred. If pursued, the case would likely be handled in the Los Angeles County court system.

It comes after Raymond previously spoke out to The Mirror after his Breaking Bad co-star Aaron Paul claimed that Raymond had knocked him out on set.

Aaron Paul starred in the hit show as Jesse Pinkman and was involved in a number of intense fight scenes over the years, with one in particular staying with him long after filming ended.

During the second episode of season two, Grilled, Aaron was involved in a fight scene with his co-star Raymond.

Raymond played drug lord Tuco Salamanca, who kidnapped Jesse and his partner Walter White in the episode. In one dramatic moment, Raymond threw Aaron through a screen door who was subsequently knocked half unconscious.

Aaron later claimed that Raymond thought he was acting and continued to kick and punch him before medics intervened. However, Raymond remembered the scene playing out quite differently.

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Raymond said: “It’s kind of accurate but not quite because Aaron suffered a concussion at the beginning of the scene and you can see it on film.

“He gets thrown through a screen door and he catches the screen door on his arm because instead of crossing his arms when he hit the door, he had them open and caught the screen door and lifted it off its hinges.”

Raymond continued: “I’m actually the one who stopped it. You can see in the scene, he stood up and I thought he was really there but once we got through the wall, I stopped it and I said, ‘Um, he’s not there’.

“The guy suffered a blow to the head and it was from the screen door. And you can see it because it’s the actual scene that they used in the film.”

He added: “It’s a crazy take because it’s so violent, the door ripped off its hinges. He actually ripped the door off with his body weight when he got caught on it so it’s a fantastic looking take.”

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Source: Mirror