Homeowner facing charges after Lakewood officer shot, killed

Joe Anthony Ruiz
(Photo courtesy: Lakewood P.D.)

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Posted: 11/12/2012
Last Updated: 192 days ago

LAKEWOOD, Colo. - One person inside a home near the shooting death of a police officer has been arrested.

Officers were investigating reports of a prowler in a neighborhood near Sloans Lake on Friday morning when they heard shots.

Officers responding to that home were searching around it when Lakewood Police Officer James Davies was shot and killed by another officer, police said.

The officers took three people from the home into custody. One of those three, the owner of the home, Joe Anthony Ruiz was arrested on suspicion of being a previous offender in possession of a weapon, tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment and other offenses.

Ruiz was in court Sunday to be advised of his rights.He was then released on bond.

The Denver Post reported the name of the officer who shot Davies is Devaney Braley, an 11-year veteran of the Lakewood Police Department.

7NEWS Reporter Jaclyn Allen tried to talk to Braley at his home, but a Lakewood police officer met her at the door and said Braley would not be commenting.

Lakewood police would not confirm Braley was involved in the shooting, but did confirm he was involved in another fatal shooting in 2009.

The suspect, 25-year-old Eugene Valarde, was accused of pointing a gun at Braley. The Denver district attorney cleared Braley of any wrongdoing.