Doctor fails to turn himself in

A former Bismarck doctor did not turn himself in to authorities over the weekend after failing to appear at his sentencing on Friday.

Dr. Emilio Cruz was convicted of Class Cfelony terrorizing in July for threatening his girlfriend's 13-year-old son with a knife. South Central District Judge Gail Hagerty was scheduled to sentence Cruz on Friday, but Cruz did not appear. According to letters to the judge from Cruz and his attorney, Michael Hoffman, Cruz was in Las Vegas and his flight to Bismarck was cancelled due to last week's snow storm. Abond order prohibited Cruz from leaving North Dakota.

Hagerty issued a warrant for Cruz's arrest, and Cruz indicated in his letter to the judge that he would turn himself in on Saturday when he returned to Bismarck. However, Cruz did not turn himself in to the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department and his warrant remains active.

Cruz, a neurologist, was terminated from Medcenter One on April 25, but officials at the hospital were unable to comment on the reason for his termination. His license with the North Dakota State Board of Medical Examiners is active but expires at the end of the year. He also is licensed to practice in California, where he is moving.

- Jenny Michael