A Hailey man has been charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after falling off a building in downtown Ketchum last summer and landing on a Blaine County Sheriff’s Office sergeant, breaking the officer’s neck.
Ketchum Police Chief Steve Harkins reported Monday that Austin B. Cruz, then 20, was charged with the crime after the case was reviewed by Ketchum City Prosecutor Rick Allington. According to court records, Cruz was not arrested but was issued a summons instead.
Court records state that the charge was actually filed against Cruz on Oct. 17. However, the case remained sealed and information was not available to the public until the case was unsealed on Nov. 15.
Cruz has pleaded not guilty. He is represented by Hailey attorney Douglas Werth.
The accident occurred around 1:45 a.m. on July 15 during a street party that was part of the MASSV music event in Ketchum. According to police reports, Cruz fell from the top of a building on Main Street, landing on Sgt. Corey Weatherly, then 43, who was working security at the event.
Weatherly was flown by emergency aircraft to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise where he underwent surgery.
Sheriff Gene Ramsey said Monday that Weatherly remains on medical leave after undergoing a second surgery in October. He said Weatherly is still undergoing rehabilitation for the injury.
“We plan on him coming back in the future,” Ramsey said. “He’s actually doing really good after the second surgery.”
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
