A Maricopa County Deputy Who Was Assaulted Will Donate His Organs

AVONDALE, AZ — A Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputy who was assaulted by a suspect at a substation in Avondale over the weekend remains on life support but will not recover from his injuries.

Juan Ruiz, a three-year veteran of the sheriff's office, "never regained consciousness" after he was placed on life support following the attack, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said in a Monday morning news conference.

The sheriff said Ruiz's family has decided to donate his organs.

"He will be making a sacrifice, so others will benefit," Penzone said, adding that Ruiz's family "needs more than your prayers."

"They need to know that you care about the men and women who put on the badge and sacrifice their lives."

Penzone said Clinton Robert Hurley was wanted for a probation violation for child molestation. Ruiz was removing Hurley's handcuffs to put him in a jail cell when Hurley started a fight, Penzone said.

Hurley "beat him unconscious," took the keys to Ruiz's police car and fled the area, Penzone said. The suspect then abandoned the police car, according to Penzone, and carjacked another vehicle that still hadn't been found as of early on Monday.

Related On Patch: Suspect Accused Of Attacking Deputy Shot By Homeowner

But police said when they were called to a shooting in Tonopah, they found that Hurley had been shot by a homeowner with whom he has a history. Hurley was shot three times and hospitalized in critical condition, Penzone said.