Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Detectives, with assistance from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and Washoe County School District Police, have arrested an employee of Gerlach K-12 School following an investigation into reports of inappropriate conduct involving a student.
On November 10, 2025, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office received initial information regarding the alleged conduct. Detectives immediately initiated an investigation in coordination with school officials and identified the suspect as 44-year-old Isreal Cruz-Gonzalez, a resident of Gerlach.
Following the investigation, Cruz-Gonzalez was arrested by detectives on November 13, 2025, in Gerlach without incident. He was transported to the Washoe County Detention Facility and booked on the charge of Sexual Conduct Between Certain Employees of School or Volunteers at School and Pupil, a Category C felony.
“Safeguarding the youth of our community is fundamental to the mission of the Sheriff’s Office. Exploitation of children is unacceptable, and we will continue to pursue anyone who harms or attempts to victimize our youth. I commend the swift and diligent work by our detectives, Patrol Division, and partner agencies in ensuring this case was acted on quickly and thoroughly.” – Sheriff Balaam
This remains an ongoing investigation. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who may have information related to this case to contact the WCSO Detective Division at (775) 328-3320, referencing case WC25-5685.
