Crash leads to capture of man after car, foot chase in northwest

Daniel Martinez was evidently determined to get away from Metro Police Tuesday.

In less than 10 minutes, Martinez stole two cars, ran through a mall, sprinted down a busy street and ran through traffic, police said.

The chase ended at Washington Avenue and Harvard Street, where a detective used an unmarked police car to hit Martinez, stopping him and breaking one of his legs.

Martinez, 40, a local man wanted on seven felony warrants including grand larceny, breaking and entering and drug trafficking in Las Vegas and Tuscaloosa, Ala., was arrested about 2 p.m.

During the chase an officer fired one round at Martinez and missed. Police said they did not know if Martinez had a gun during the chase, and have not recovered any weapons.

Metro officials said the shooting and the chase-ending incident will be investigated to see if officers complied with department policy.

The chase started about 1:50 p.m. when a patrol officer spotted the driver of a car involved in some kind of suspicious activity, Deputy Chief Ray Flynn said.

"The officer initiated a stop, and the guy jumped out and ran through Sears (at Meadows mall)," Flynn said.

Once out of the mall, police said Martinez spotted a Clark County Water District truck and got inside. He locked himself inside the truck, and while he attempted to start it, an officer caught up with him and shattered one of the truck's windows in an attempt to get Martinez.

Before the officer could take him into custody, Martinez got the truck started and took off.

"We started a very short vehicle pursuit at that point, but there was just too much traffic and too many people out there, so it was called off," Flynn said.

Seconds later police again picked up the trail as reports of a traffic accident on the Decatur Boulevard overpass at U.S. 95 came in to police dispatchers.

Police said Martinez was involved in a multiple vehicle accident on the overpass, but before police could arrive he bolted from the wrecked truck and ran north on Decatur.

"He ran all the way down to the Jack-In-The-Box at Washington," Flynn said. "It's a pretty good run, probably three-quarters of a mile."

Outside the restaurant, Martinez began to carjack a driver in a sport utility vehicle, police said. An on-duty Metro Search and Rescue officer in the area spotted the carjacking and fired one shot at Martinez, Flynn said.

"He saw him committing a dangerous crime and attempted to stop him by firing one shot," Flynn said.

Martinez was able to make his way behind the SUV's wheel and headed west on Washington, Flynn said.

During an attempted left turn onto Harvard the SUV crashed into a block wall along the west side of the street, sending chunks of cement flying into the street. A pursuing officer rammed his patrol car into the driver's side of the SUV in an attempt to keep Martinez from fleeing, but Martinez was able to slip out of the car just before the impact, police said.

Martinez then ran back out into traffic on Washington, where he was struck by an oncoming unmarked police car, police said.

"A detective responding to the series of crimes, saw the suspect fleeing across Washington, and knowing that he had just committed a violent felony, attempted to stop him by hitting him with her police car," Flynn said in a release. "She did hit him with the car, bringing him to a stop."

Martinez was taken to University Medical Center and was listed in fair condition this morning. No one else was seriously injured during the chase, police said.

Martinez is facing multiple charges including, felony evading, carjacking, leaving the scene of an accident and jaywalking. More charges could be added, police said.

Both officers will face a Use of Force Board hearing to determine if their actions were within department policy for deadly force.

The name of the officer who fired at Martinez and of the officer that hit Martinez with her car will not be released until 48 hours after the incident, as per Metro policy. Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

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