Sometimes things get so out of hand it’s all but impossible to figure out exactly what went on. Such is the case with an incident that occurred on October 26, 2025 at a Ben Carver Road address. The initial call came in as a domestic dispute but officers quickly discovered it was a lot more.
According to an incident report from the sheriff’s office, a domestic dispute call came in from Zulema Cruz-Ortiz, 34, of Ambrose. When the first deputy arrived, he noticed “multiple” alcoholic beverage containers scattered throughout the property and a number of individuals who appeared to be underage being picked up to leave.
Cruz-Ortiz made the 911 call because her step-daughter “did not want to listen to her while her dad was out of town.” As the story unfolded, deputies discovered a series of domestic arguments and fights involving multiple individuals, at least one of whom was a juvenile. The causes of the fights were attributed to everything from a boyfriend being a girl’s bedroom without permission to a flea-infested dog being brought inside the home, according to the report. Everyone admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages, the report states, and most of the individuals involved were underage.
In the end, though, the first victim had visible injuries consistent with those sustained in a fight. Cruz-Ortiz also had marks on her hands consistent with what one might suffer from hitting another individual in a fight. The report states the following: “After analyzing the testimonies, and due to conflicting testimonies, [the deputy] feels that he cannot with certainty prove who initiated the original altercation . . . Based off the testimonies given and injuries to [the victim], he has enough probable cause to pursue charges against Zulema Cruz-Ortiz for battery-family violence, maintaining a disorderly house, and making false statements to law enforcement.”
Cruz-Ortiz was charged as such and transported to the Coffee County Jail and later released.