Migrant worker accused of stabbing co-worker in Pahokee over lack of phone

PAHOKEE, Fla. (CBS12) — A migrant worker from Guatemala is accused of stabbing a co-worker over a missing phone on Christmas Eve in Pahokee.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) said on Dec. 25 at 3:37 p.m., a supervisor at Pero Farms called deputies to report a violent incident that occurred the night before Christmas at a nearby migrant camp at 1401 Joe Louis Avenue. .

The supervisor told deputies the alleged stabbing happened around 9:30 p.m., and other migrants living at the facility informed him of a stabbing involving multiple people. The supervisor, who was not present during the incident, directed the authorities to the people involved.

One of the victims reported that Gelser Ivan Ramirez Cruz confronted him about a missing phone. Despite the victim’s offer to help locate the phone, Cruz, convinced his co-workers were playing a trick on him, took two small knives from his bag and allegedly began slashing several of his co-workers. The victim suffered a laceration to his stomach, while another victim suffered a laceration to his back.

See also: Christmas Eve hit and run in Lake Clarke Shores under investigation

The second victim told deputies during his interview that Cruz became enraged while searching his phone and — without warning — began hitting him and the first victim. Despite her injury, the second victim chose not to pursue criminal charges, while the first victim expressed that she did not feel safe and wanted to press charges.

Deputies said that after Miranda, Cruz admitted his intent was to scare, not harm, his co-workers into returning the phone, which he believed they had intentionally hidden. A small knife with a black handle and video footage showing Cruz holding two knives were submitted as evidence, according to the arrest affidavit.

PBSO said the 23-year-old suspect was arrested and booked into the PBSO West Region Detention Center for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

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