TEXAS — Carlos Martinez, 32, is in custody for three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer after three Lubbock Police Officers were injured earlier today.
At approximately 12:40 this afternoon, officers responded to a dispute at the Del Estrado Townhomes located near 62nd Street and Geneva Avenue. Martinez and his girlfriend had recently been evicted from their townhome, and he had returned to the property to pick up his belongings.
While there, he got into a verbal altercation with another resident, and the manager called police to have him removed from the property for trespassing.
The officer checked Martinez for warrants. Martinez was sitting in the driver seat of the SUV while the officer was standing next him with the vehicle door open. Dispatch came back stating Martinez had two warrants including one for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The officer told Martinez to exit the SUV, but he refused and put the SUV in reverse. The officer was run over the by the door of the SUV while another officer quickly grabbed the child sitting in the front passenger seat, pulling him to safety. That officer along with a third officer were injured as the SUV continued traveling in reverse until hitting an LPD patrol Tahoe.
Officers fired multiple shots at the SUV. Martinez then put the car in drive and began to speed toward the downed officer. Luckily, the officer was able to move out of the way before getting hit a second time.
Officers Donovan Powell, Mark Ellison, and Saul Garay were taken to University Medical Center to be treated and have since been released.
Shortly after fleeing the scene, Martinez struck another SUV in the area of Indiana Avenue and West Loop 289 and continued driving.
Not long after, officers found the SUV abandoned near 73rd Street and Joliet Avenue.
