Public records reveal that Corey Ruiz, the 38-year-old man fatally shot by Madison Police last week, had been charged nine times and convicted eight times over two decades for resisting, obstructing, threatening, or injuring law enforcement officers across multiple jurisdictions in Dane County.

Extensive Criminal History With Law Enforcement

Court documents spanning nearly 20 years show Ruiz repeatedly engaged in physical confrontations with police from at least five different agencies, including the City of Madison, Town of Madison, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, and State Capitol police departments. Five separate cases involved Madison police specifically. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation now reviews evidence from the fatal encounter that ended his life.

In a 2021 incident, four Madison officers reported that Ruiz resisted arrest and made threatening statements against law enforcement. Ruiz pleaded guilty to making threats in that case. Madison police do not equip officers with body-worn cameras, preventing independent verification of the documented statements or circumstances surrounding these repeated confrontations with authorities.

Mental Health Concerns Raised

Attorney Ben Crump, representing the Ruiz family, indicated last week that Ruiz may have struggled with mental health challenges. During a 2021 sentencing hearing, Ruiz himself told the judge he experienced issues with his mental capacity that drove him to seek drugs to numb painful memories from his past. No specific mental health diagnosis or treatment appears in available public records.

A 2022 battery charge stemming from a Dane County Jail fight raised additional competency questions. His attorney noted Ruiz could not recall why he was incarcerated and provided only single-word responses during consultations. Despite these concerns, court records contain no indication that Ruiz was ever found legally incompetent. He was ultimately convicted in that case as well.

What This Means

Madison city leaders announced Monday that the shooting will undergo independent review by the city’s oversight board, separate from the state investigation. The case highlights ongoing debates about mental health services in the criminal justice system and police accountability measures. The absence of body camera footage in Madison complicates efforts to reconstruct events leading to the fatal shooting, raising questions about transparency in officer-involved incidents across the nation.