No bail for man accused in bottle attack

LYNN – A judge ordered a city man held without bail after witnesses said the man, who was off his medication, stabbed two people with a broken bottle, nearly cutting a man’s nose off, after medical personnel arrived to evaluate the suspect’s mental health.”Once (the suspect) was aware that EMS service was on scene he became enraged and had picked up a bottle off of the cabinet and struck (the alleged male victim) over his head, causing the bottle to break,” Lynn Police Officer Jessica Lee wrote in a report. “With the broken bottle, he then proceeded to stab (the alleged male victim) causing lacerations to his face and back.”Marcelo Cruz, 26, of 68 Essex St. #2, was arrested and charged with mayhem, two counts; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts; and assault; at 7:04 a.m. Thursday.He was arraigned later that day in Lynn District Court where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.Police responded to the Essex Avenue apartment and found the fire department at the scene tending to a male and a female victim, according to reports. A firefighter pointed out two men walking away from the incident and said that one of the men had stabbed two people, according to police.Officers stopped both of the men, who were identified as Cruz and Cruz’s brother.Police said Cruz’s brother told officers he called an ambulance to take Cruz to the hospital for an evaluation early Thursday morning because Cruz had schizophrenia and had not been taking his medication.Cruz’s brother, a female victim and a third witness all told police that Cruz became enraged when he saw the ambulance. Cruz allegedly attacked the male victim, breaking a bottle over his head. Cruz allegedly then began stabbing the victim with the broken bottle, causing “severe” facial injuries and cutting the man’s nose that it was “basically hanging off,” according to officer Taylor Haberek.The girlfriend of the male alleged victim tried to break up the fight and was cut on the hand. Cruz also was cut on the hand during the incident, police reported.At the arraignment, a prosecutor requested Cruz be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.Judge Albert Conlon found probable cause for the request and ordered Cruz held pending a dangerousness hearing Thursday.