Crime & Safety
Suspect Wanted for Assault on Chula Vista Police Officer Arrested In IB
James Martinez is wanted in connection with an attempted shooting outside a saloon and a car chase that left an officer with a broken foot.
A 20-year-old man suspected of trying to run down a Chula Vista police officer last month was arrested in Imperial Beach Saturday night, according to police.
James Martinez was tracked to an apartment in the 1100 block of Florence Avenue around 10 p.m., said Bernard Gonzales of the Chula Vista Police Department. He was booked for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
On April 23, Martinez tried to shoot a man in the 500 block of Davidson Avenue near Wild Wooley’s Saloon in Chula Vista. Police spotted Martinez, an alleged gang member, and another man, Chula Vista resident Sean O’Neil, fleeing in a vehicle and gave chase. They drove into a cul-de-sac in the 500 block of Madrona Street.
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Police said Martinez tried to run the pursuing officer down with his vehicle. The officer suffered fractures to his foot as he fired several shots at the vehicle. Martinez and O’Neil escaped, but O’Neil was arrested about a week later hiding at his father’s apartment in the 400 block of Telegraph Canyon Road.
O’Neil, 21, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace
officer.
Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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