POLK COUNTY, FLA. After being arrested on charges of hitting and threatening two women, a Polk County officer quit.
Someone who was hurt by Deputy Anthony Martinez told the sheriff’s office on July 3 that he had hurt her more than once.
Later, investigators said they found out that there was another female victim.
Police said they found evidence of at least six acts of domestic abuse between the two victims. For example, one victim’s hand was slammed in a drawer, and another was held down for up to 20 minutes so she couldn’t leave her apartment. Gun threats were also made.
According to the sheriff’s office, Martinez was asked about the claims and said he did some things but not others.
A news statement said that Martinez was arrested and quit right away when he got to the processing center.
Martinez had been a cop for less than a year, according to the sheriff’s office.
He is charged with six counts of simple battery in a domestic violence incident, two counts of false imprisonment in a domestic violence incident, one count of culpable negligence, three counts of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of improper display of a firearm.
You can text “START” to 88788 or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 if you need help leaving a violent situation or helping someone you care about leave an abusive situation. On the website for the number, you can also chat with someone.
