Going Home to Prison...Carlsbad Style

I apologize for the lack of posts...I've been travelling a fair amount and haven't been in town to witness the classiness that is Carlsbad. I have started following the local paper, and enough happened this last weekend to warrant some blog posts starting with this one...the most amusing parts are in bold.

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Man facing charges after BB gun incident

From the Current-Argus
From the Current-Argus

Posted: 06/25/2010 09:05:43 PM MDT

CARLSBAD — A local man faces felony assault charges for an alleged rampage with a BB gun in search of a missing dog. Officers of the Carlsbad Police Department responded to the 700 block of North Main Street Sunday after receiving reports of a man identified as 21-year-old Jason Martinez pointing a rifle at people, a criminal complaint stated.

Upon arrival, the reporting officer said he came around the corner to find Martinez with a long barreled weapon in his hand, later determined to be a pump-action BB gun. The officer reported he originally thought the weapon was a .22 rifle and drew his AR-15 rifle, pointing it at Martinez and ordering him to drop the weapon.Martinez then reportedly turned and pointed the BB gun at the officer, who tookcover behind a dumpster and again ordered the man to drop the weapon.

Martinez appeared to become frightened upon the realization that the officer had an assault rifle and threw down the BB gun, although he would not get on the ground as ordered. Another officer tackled Martinez and he was arrested, the complaint stated.

Officers had also responded to the scene earlier that day on reports of a man with a pellet gun causing a disturbance. They had located Martinez, who reportedly told the officers he was looking for his little black dog and would shoot anyone who stole his dog. He said he would have no problem going to prison, which he considers home. He was given a warning by police at that time.

A resident at the scene reportedly told police that Martinez had pointed a rifle at him and yelled obscenities at him, demanding to know where his dog was. The resident said he retreated to his apartment, where he called police.

A pedestrian nearby reported to police that he had encountered Martinez, who allegedly had asked him about a black dog and took several swings at him, missing each time. The pedestrian identified Martinez in booking at the police department and his previous descriptions of the man matched Martinez, the complaint stated.

Martinez reportedly admitted to police that he grabbed the BB gun and went in search of his missing dog, although he said he did not point the weapon at anyone.

"It was just a BB gun and I did not do anything, I am just looking for my dog," he reportedly said.

He apologized for pointing the weapon at the officer and for being stupid, the complaint stated. He said police should have just shot him in the head and taken him out.

Jason Martinez, of the 700 block of North Canyon, pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault on a peace officer, aggravated assault and assault. He was placed on a secured bond of $10,000 by Magistrate Judge Henry Castaneda. His preliminary hearing is set for 11 a.m. July 8.

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Yeah...this happened about two blocks from my house, which is in a decent neighborhood (or at least I think it's pretty good, it's a lot like my neighborhood in Bryan). But seriously... who takes a BB gun with them to look for a dog? And then, who's dumb enough to point it a police officers...with real weapons. Oh well...at least he's going home to prison :-) .