POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County deputy resigned after he was arrested on accusations of hitting and threatening two women.
The sheriff’s office said it received a tip on July 3 from one of the victims that Deputy Anthony Martinez had hurt her several times.
Recommended Videos
Investigators said they later determined that there was another female victim.
Detectives said they uncovered at least six incidents of domestic violence between the two victims. The violence included acts such as slamming one victim’s hand in a drawer, restraining one victim for up to 20 minutes to prevent her from leaving her apartment and making threats with guns.
The sheriff’s office said Martinez was questioned about the accusations and admitted to some acts but denied others.
Martinez was arrested and immediately resigned when he arrived at the processing center, according to a news release.
The sheriff’s office said Martinez had only been a deputy for less than a year.
He faces six counts of domestic violence simple battery, 2 counts of domestic violence false imprisonment, 1 count of culpable negligence, 3 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and 2 counts of improper exhibition of a firearm.
If you need help getting out of an abusive situation, or getting someone you care about out of an abusive situation, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788. You can also go to the hotline website and chat with a representative.
You can also find domestic violence shelters and groups in almost every Central Florida county.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: