Denver Police are asking the public to help track down 34-year-old Jorge Ruiz, who is wanted on warrants for kidnapping and assault. Ruiz is described as standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, according to the department's latest weekly wanted appeal.
The appeal, posted as part of the department's recurring “Mug Shot Monday” series, was shared by the Denver Police Department on Facebook earlier Monday. Ruiz, born December 12, 1991, is wanted in connection with kidnapping and assault, though the department's post does not detail the underlying circumstances of the alleged crimes. As with all wanted suspects, Ruiz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Kidnapping charges in Colorado carry serious potential consequences. Under state law, second-degree kidnapping involves knowingly seizing and carrying another person without consent and without lawful justification, and is generally classified as a Class 4 felony punishable by two to six years in prison, according to Justia Law. First-degree kidnapping, which requires elements like ransom or concessions, is treated even more severely than the second-degree version tied to unlawful seizure and movement.
What Assault Charges Could Mean for Ruiz
The assault allegation against Ruiz also carries significant potential prison exposure depending on how prosecutors ultimately charge the case. Felony assault in Colorado ranges from second-degree assault, carrying five to 16 years in prison, up to first-degree assault involving serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon, which can bring 10 to 32 years in prison, per Flatiron Legal Advisors. The exact severity of any charge Ruiz may eventually face would hinge on factors such as whether a weapon was used and the extent of any injury involved.
Notably, police have built in an incentive for Ruiz to turn himself in. The department's Mug Shot Monday appeal states that if Ruiz surrenders to law enforcement, officers will pull down the social media post once his jail booking is confirmed. It is a conditional detail the department regularly attaches to its weekly wanted posts to encourage voluntary surrenders rather than manhunts.
How Tips Reach Investigators
Anyone with information on Ruiz's whereabouts can contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers by phone at 720-913-STOP (7867) or through the organization's online tip form. The nonprofit offers cash rewards of up to $2,000 for anonymous tips that lead to an arrest or the filing of charges in wanted-suspect cases, and tipsters are not required to reveal their identity. Since its founding in 1981, Metro Denver Crime Stoppers has processed more than 70,000 anonymous tips, leading to 3,396 arrests and 5,855 cleared cases, with more than $1.35 million distributed in rewards through May 2024 — funded entirely through private donations rather than taxpayer dollars.
The Mug Shot Monday format is part of a broader digital engagement strategy the department has relied on for years. Denver Police also run a recurring “Wanted Wednesday” series, using both to crowdsource public assistance in tracking down suspects with outstanding felony warrants, according to a report from the Brechner Center for the Advancement of the First Amendment. These posts are designed to complement traditional news releases and reach community members directly on platforms they already use.
Ruiz's Case Comes Amid a Broader Crime Decline
The search for Ruiz unfolds against a backdrop of overall improving crime statistics across the city and state. Total violent crime in Denver dropped by more than 14% between 2022 and 2025, part of a broader citywide decline in major criminal offenses, according to a Common Sense Institute analysis cited by DPPA. Statewide, reported violent crimes fell by 10.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, including nearly 2,000 fewer aggravated assaults reported across Colorado, per data released by the Colorado Department of Public Safety in July.
That improvement, however, has not been uniform across Denver's neighborhoods. While violent crime decreased across most Denver police districts between 2024 and 2025, District 6 — which covers downtown Denver and Capitol Hill and accounts for roughly a quarter of all violent crime victims citywide — was the sole district to record an increase in violent crime reports, as reported by Colorado Politics.
Beyond Crime Stoppers, Denver residents can also submit non-emergency crime information directly to police through their 24/7 line or confidentially through the Colorado Information Analysis Center by phone or mobile app. The department maintains multiple digital, phone, and walk-in options across its six district stations for residents who want to report information without going through the anonymous tip line. This is one of several similar public appeals Hoodline has covered recently, including a search for a suspect wanted on burglary and assault warrants and another involving a trio tied to a kidnapping case at a Target parking lot.
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