Watch: Services for MCSO deputy killed in line of duty

PHOENIX — Memorial services will be held Tuesday for a Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy killed in the line of duty earlier this month.

The celebration of life for Juan “Johnny” Ruiz will take place at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located at 13720 W. Thomas Road in Avondale, and is being streamed on MCSO’s Facebook page.

A procession will start at 12:30 p.m. at the church and is expected to last about an hour and a half.

It’ll travel east on Thomas Road to 137th Avenue, north to Indian School Road, east to 107th Avenue and back south to Thomas Road before arriving at the funeral home for Ruiz.

The funeral home — Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery and Funeral Home — is located at 9925 W. Thomas Road in Avondale.

Thomas Road will be closed between 103rd and 99th avenues between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Three segments of roads will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the procession.

137th Avenue will be closed between Thomas and Indian School roads, Indian School Road will be closed between Old Litchfield Road and 107th Avenue, and 107th Avenue will be closed between Indian School and Thomas roads.

Ruiz died Oct. 11 after an uncuffed suspect beat him unconscious two days earlier.

He had taken Clinton Robert Hurley, 30, to a cell and removed the handcuffs.

Other deputies found Ruiz bleeding and knocked out in the cell. Hurley had escaped, taking Ruiz’s patrol unit.

Hurley, captured after a homeowner shot him during a break-in, was booked into the Pinal County jail in Florence on Wednesday after being released from the hospital.

Charges against Hurley for Ruiz’s death are pending.

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