UPDATE: May 9 at 1:10 p.m.
New details were released by the Rowan County Sheriff's Office in the arrest on Thursday of the escaped fugitive in Morehead.
According to the sheriff's office, one officer spotted Martinez and gave verbal commands for him to get on the ground, but he took off on foot and ran straight into another officer.
The sheriff's office says that Martinez had slipped one handcuff off his wrist, and then assaulted the officer and told him he was "going to kill him."
Other officers arrived to help, and Martinez "tried multiple times to grab their weapons," and push into the officers, causing them to fall into Triplett Creek, according to the sheriff's office.
Further, the sheriff's office says that while in the waist-deep water, Martinez continued to "follow through with his threats of trying to kill them."
According to the sheriff's office, the officers eventually gained control of Martinez and arrested him.
In a Facebook post, the sheriff's office thanked the Morehead Police Department for their sacrifice and risking their life to get Martinez back in custody.
UPDATE: May 8 at 9:15 p.m.
The Morehead Police Department has released more information regarding the arrest of Anthony Martinez, a man who escaped from police custody earlier this week.
MPD reports that on Thursday, authorities received a tip that Martinez had "traveled from the Boot Ranch area to the vicinity of Triplett Creek behind KFC."
Aid from Kentucky State Police was then requested, including deployment of their mobile air unit; however, the area's thick vegetation prevented the location of Martinez, MPD said in a press release.
Officers were then deployed and later located where Martinez had crossed the creek and later, his "hiding spot" behind the Newtowne Square Shopping Center.
Martinez attempted to flee on foot but after a brief pursuit and struggle, he was arrested without further incident.
He is booked in the Rowan County Detention Center and is charged with:
- Third degree assault of a police officer or probation officer
- Resisting arrest
- Disarming a peace officer
- First degree wanton endangerment of a police officer
- First degree criminal mischief
- Second degree escape
- Serving parole violation warrant
UPDATE: May 8 at 5:36 p.m.
Morehead Police report that Anthony Martinez, a man who escaped from police custody while at UK-St. Claire Hospital on Tuesday, has been arrested.
"Morehead Police Department tracked Martinez to his hiding spot, from there they were able to arrest him," police said on Facebook Thursday.
The safety alert regarding Martinez has also been canceled.
UPDATE: May 7 at 10:30 a.m.
As of Wednesday morning, police in Morehead continue to search for Anthony Martinez after he reportedly escaped from police custody while at UK-St. Claire Hospital on Tuesday.
Morehead Police Chief Derrick Blevins told LEX 18 that the department has not received any information that would indicate he has left the area. Police asked the public to stay vigilant, keep their doors locked, and make sure their weapons are out of vehicles.
Further, police asked businesses and homeowners to review any security footage and contact Morehead police at 606-784-7511 with any information regarding the whereabouts of Martinez.
Original Story:
The Morehead Police Department says they are searching for a man who escaped from a hospital while in custody on Tuesday.
According to police, Anthony Martinez escaped from UK-St. Claire Hospital, while in the custody of Rowan County Detention Center guards.
During the time of his escape, police say that the deputy did deploy his taser, but it wasn't effective.
Police say that he is wanted on federal charges and may be dangerous, and not to approach him, but call 911.
According to police, Martinez was being housed on a federal detainer for robbery and weapons violations.
Martinez, according to police, was last seen near the Boot Ranch by Main Street and KY 32 and was in an orange jumpsuit, but could have changed since then.
Police note that he does not have a beard or facial hair and is believed to be on foot.
Police ask anyone who lives in downtown Morehead to review any home or business security camera footage from 3 a.m. to noon. The public is asked to be aware and keep doors locked.
According to police, a K-9 unit, KSP, and the sheriff's department are working to find him and have contacted school resource officers.
