‘Breaking Bad’ Star Raymond Cruz Arrested Over Bizarre Hose Incident In L.A.

Caught in a Splashy Dispute

Raymond Cruz, the actor who brought the unhinged drug lord Tuco Salamanca to life on ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul,’ found himself in hot water - literally - on Monday, September 8. The 63-year-old star was arrested in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood after an unusual confrontation involving a garden hose and three women in a minivan. According to reports, what started as a simple car wash outside his home escalated into a full-blown dispute.

As first broken by TMZ, the incident kicked off around 10:40 a.m. when a minivan reportedly pulled up dangerously close to Cruz’s bumper - we’re talking ‘half an inch’ close, per his talent agent, Raphael Berko. Cruz, who was hosing down his ride at the time, allegedly got into a verbal spat with the women over their parking choice.

What Really Went Down?

Things took a turn when Cruz asked the women to move their vehicle, warning them it might get wet from his cleaning. Per Berko, they refused to budge and instead whipped out their phones to film the ‘Major Crimes’ alum. That’s when the situation got... splashy.

According to Berko, as Cruz turned to tell them to stop recording, water from his hose hit the front of his car and accidentally splashed onto theirs. One of the women then called the cops, leading to Cruz’s arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor battery. LAPD officer David Cuellar confirmed to People that there was ‘a dispute with the victim,’ during which Cruz allegedly directed water toward them.

‘It’s surreal to see someone who played a tough cop on TV for years end up in handcuffs over something as trivial as a wet car,’ a local resident commented on the bizarre incident.

Arrest, Release, and What’s Next

Cruz, who also portrayed detective Julio Sanchez on ‘The Closer’ and its spinoff ‘Major Crimes,’ was taken to jail following the altercation but has since been released. He’s scheduled to appear in court on October 1, though no formal charges have been filed as of now. Berko emphasized that this is the first arrest in Cruz’s life, adding a layer of irony given his long history of playing law enforcement roles.

Berko also shared that the LAPD treated Cruz with respect during his roughly five-hour stint in custody. ‘Raymond’s very grateful to all of the LAPD personnel... they were all very gracious and nice to him and reassuring,’ the agent noted. It’s a small silver lining in an otherwise messy situation.

Beyond his iconic ‘Breaking Bad’ gig, Cruz has kept busy with roles in shows like ‘Mayans M.C.’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ plus the recent dramedy film ‘Love, Danielle.’ Fans are now left wondering how this odd chapter will play out - both in court and in the court of public opinion.