Man accused of beating woman, stealing car waives hearing

By Tiffany Gibson

Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 | 11:58 a.m.

Daniel Ruiz

A man accused of beating a woman in her home, then nabbed after allegedly stealing a woman's purse outside a bookstore has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will appear in district court for an arraignment on felony charges.

Daniel Ruiz, 20, is charged with burglary with intent to commit a felony, robbery of an older person, kidnapping in the first degree, battery with substantial bodily harm, battery with intent to commit a felony, grand larceny of a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, burglary with intent to commit a felony and robbery of a victim over 65. He is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on $25,000 bail.

Ruiz appeared in court today in front of Justice of the Peace William Jansen to waive his scheduled preliminary hearing. Jansen scheduled Ruiz’ arraignment in district court for 9 a.m. on Dec. 7.

Prosecuter Adrian Lobo said no negotiations or plea agreements have been reached.

Earlier this month, District Attorney David Roger said the two cases against Ruiz were combined into one criminal complaint. Today, Roger said Ruiz will plead not guilty to all charges.

Ruiz was arrested in October after he allegedly tried to steal a woman’s purse inside the Borders Bookstore at 2190 N. Rainbow Blvd., police reports said.

He was booked in connection with grand larceny and possession of a credit card without the owner’s consent. During the arrest, detectives compared his photo to a composite sketch released in the attack of a woman in her mid-60s who was robbed and beaten in the face on Oct. 14 at her home near Buffalo Avenue and Smoke Ranch.

Ruiz allegedly came to the woman’s front door and told her he was looking for a lost dog, then left for eight minutes, the arrest report said. He returned, and she opened the door to him and allegedly began to beat her in the face, head, arms and chest with his fists, the report indicated.

He then allegedly grabbed her car keys and wallet before leaving in her 2008 Infiniti G35, which authorities later found abandoned in the same neighborhood.