Former TV cook Juan Carlos Cruz suspect in murder-for-hire plot:

Former TV cook Juan Carlos Cruz suspect in murder-for-hire plot:

Juan-Carlos Cruz, the former host of Food Network's "Calorie Commando" is accused of plotting to homeless people to hire to carry out a murder, California police said Friday.

The Santa Monica Police Department is not releasing details about the purpose or the alleged murder plot.

The plan fell apart when the homeless Cruz reportedly told officers recruited by the Santa Monica Police Department's Homeless Liaison Program, authorities said.

"The people who were asked agreed to the Santa Monica Police Department to assist in the investigation," said a police statement.

"The results of the study showed the murder for-hire method, where and when the individual had to be slain, and the method of payment."

The investigation began on May 7 and Thursday, Cruz was arrested, police said.

Cruz is held on a $ 5,000,000 bail on a charge of incitement to murder.