Maricopa County attorney seeking death penalty for man if found guilty of killing sheriff deputy

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday it is seeking the death penalty for a man if he is found guilty of killing a sheriff deputy last year.

Prosecutors at the direction of interim Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Clinton Robert Hurley if convicted in the death of Juan “Johnny” Ruiz last October.

“Seeking the death penalty is the most serious decision entrusted to the county attorney,” Mitchell said in a press release.

“On Oct. 9, 2021, Deputy Juan Ruiz was simply doing his job and he paid the ultimate price trying to keep our community safe. This office will seek justice for Deputy Ruiz and his family.”

A Maricopa County Grand Jury in February indicted Hurley on 16 felony counts, including first-degree murder and robbery.

Hurley allegedly assaulted Ruiz at an Avondale substation while the suspect was being processed on multiple felony warrants.

Officials previously said Ruiz removed Hurley’s handcuffs to put him in a cell when the attack occurred. Other deputies found Ruiz bleeding and unconscious in the cell.

Ruiz was put on life support so his organs could be donated, and he died two days after the incident.

Hurley allegedly took Ruiz’s patrol car and was later captured after a homeowner shot him during a break-in.

The state’s high court in the past month has issued two execution warrants, the first since 2014 when executions were put on hold after death row inmates and the First Amendment Coalition of Arizona filed a lawsuit over the execution of Joseph Wood.

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