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Hit-and-run victim’s family eyes lawsuit
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The family of Antonio Martinez are considering suing the Anne Arundel County police officer who allegedly left the scene of a fatal crash that left Martinez dead and injured two passengers in Martinez' car.
“We’re investigating,” said Rick Schmidt, one of the attorneys representing the family of Antonio Martinez, 28. “The police are being pretty tight-lipped about their side of the story.”
In a statement read by one of her attorneys, Martinez’s widow, Nohoemi, 25, said she cannot accept that her husband is gone.
“This is a very difficult time for me, my daughter, my family and friends,” she said. “On Monday morning, I woke up as usual at 4 a.m. to prepare my husband’s lunch. I said good-bye as normal with a kiss, like we always did, but I never expected him to not return.”
Authorities arrested an Anne Arundel police officer, who was off-duty at the time of the crash, in connection with the fatal crash on Interstate 95 near Aberdeen on Monday. In an unusual move, the Maryland State Police redacted the officer’s name in a report of the crash.
The officer was driving a gray Nissan truck around 6 a.m. when he rear-ended a Ford Explorer with Texas license plates, causing the Explorer to spin out, flip over the guardrail and land on the inside shoulder of southbound I-95, according to police. The officer then fled the scene, police said.
State police tracked down the officer after discovering a license plate that fell off his vehicle during the crash.
Martinez, of Gwynn Oak, was pronounced dead at the scene. Passengers Jaime Martinez Salas, 35, and Jose Enrique Ramos Olvera, 19, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Anne Arundel Police Chief James Teare Sr., in a statement, said he was aware the family was holding a news conference with attorneys.
“We’re sure that was a decision undoubtedly made in the best interest of the family and we will certainly not criticize their actions,” he said. “Our hearts continue to go out to the family and they remain in our constant thoughts.”
Nohoemi Martinez’s said her husband was very active in church.
“He was always happy and joyful,” she said. “I miss Antonio and I love him a lot.”
lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
10:27 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008 re: "Family angry cop left scene"
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dsntslp said:
Has the officers name been released yet? It is over a month later!
62 agree | 37 disagree
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dsntslp said:
Quote: Examiner Reader said: I am a Police officer and think this cop should be punished and he should get max jail time, there is NO excuse for that type of conduct. Please do not think that everyone who puts on a uniform acts or thinks the way this cop does. 99.9% of Police Officers are hard working, good people who try their best to make a difference in Maryland citizens everyday live... -------------------------------------- Please Sir, If you really are PD... please see what you can do to help the inordinate amount of officers that seem to be drinking? I do not believe that drinking alcohol should be an occupational hazzard. Please take a poll, (even if it is secret) amongst your department (and get those guys you work with to tell the truth) and if they can not handle the stress of the job without drinking...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ! Say something! Please! The next life you save may be your own family member!
82 agree | 73 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I am a Police officer and think this cop should be punished and he should get max jail time, there is NO excuse for that type of conduct. Please do not think that everyone who puts on a uniform acts or thinks the way this cop does. 99.9% of Police Officers are hard working, good people who try their best to make a difference in Maryland citizens everyday lives
73 agree | 67 disagree
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dsntslp said:
To the family of Antonio Martinez: You do not know me but my heart truly hurts for you. My kids father was killed in a hit and run on Oct 10th, 2006. Allegedly a Miami-Dade Detective (at the time) killed Ryland (Rick) James Nye. I understand the anger of losing a loved one to a hit and run driver...worse yet...I understand the extreme anger you must be feeling at knowing that an officer of the law may be involved. It is so hard to understand how anyone could do something like this...but especially someone sworn to serve and protect. You have a long and lonely journey to endure ahead of you. I think that unless someone has been through this they can not ever possibly understand the complexity of the emotions we go through. When you are ready there is a wonderful site you might like to check out. It has been very helpful to me. The name is "Deadlyroads.com". Peace and prayers, dsntslp =(doesn't sleep...and will not...until we have justice in our case!)
54 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The cop was drunk and blew more than the legal limit on the intoximeter and I'll leave it at that.
74 agree | 81 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm a cop and I would not work for A.A. county Police if they offered me a Million dollars.
82 agree | 78 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"They have a right to know if this officer is a witness against them because it goes to his credibility." Oh really? Where do you practice law? You would barely get the question out of your mouth before the objection was called and sustained.
76 agree | 61 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
He had to leave to avoid the DUI
74 agree | 69 disagree
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The Undertaker said:
To 5:15 PM, I would be the first to condemn any violent attack on the suspect, but the fact is that the MSP always release the names of suspects in these cases. They aren't worried about retribution when the suspect isn't a police officer. It is a double standard. Also, I have clients in AA County who might be facing jail time. They have a right to know if this officer is a witness against them because it goes to his credibility. A person who does a hit-and-run is typically not as honest as your average citizen.
68 agree | 57 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What a nice looking family..You can see the love in the picture...Freakin thug a.a.county cops!!
63 agree | 59 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The A.A county police department employees nothing but a bunch of young arrogant punks. I live near the northern county station and there always flying up and down the road...they ride your arss because they know theres nothing you can do..20 year olds with to much authority.
84 agree | 74 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
6:48. No because some idiot might wanna conduct an Internet Search on the name, then go exercise their own "justice". Im not saying its the case, but you done know if the "immigrants" have connections with any, shall we say, bad people... There's no death penalty for hit & run.
71 agree | 47 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The officer should be charged with hit and run and tried on those charges. I would doubt he will be charged with murder or manslaughter because it seems like the driver was killed instantly in the accident, and the fact that he left the scene probably did not contribute to the death. The initial crash was an accident, just like the thousands of others that happen on a daily basis. The crime is not in the accident or crash, but in the leaving of the accident scene....accidents happen all the time and people die in accidents all the time. Just remember, behind every bad cop that is arrested, there MUST be a good cop that arrests him and believes in keeping police departments clean. Bad cops wouldn't be arrested if it weren't for good cops.
69 agree | 45 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Thousands of good, hard working officers in the Baltimore area, and the only officers that the Examiner and other news outlets choose to report on are the bad ones. The media makes the police out to be monsters, because fear and scandal sell, and they want people to read their newspaper....in the end it's about money. Nobody seems likes the police until they need them...then when an officer does a good thing, he recieves no thanks. Most people have no clue whats really going on in the world, but they certainly do have an idea of whats going on in the news. Hilarious.
57 agree | 86 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
1 hour for freinds and family to be notified. All because of an officer left a scene? Unacceptable.
89 agree | 71 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
There is no rush to charge the Officer, by taking your time you are able to build a better case. He is being treated like anyone else. If I recall the Stripper that killed that MDTA Officer on New Years Eve still has not been charged. These hit and run cases take a while to investigate, it has nothing to do with the suspects job.
82 agree | 70 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
As usual, the cops are above it all, only when one of thier own does something like this does the public see the real layers of ignorance and holier than thou attitude that exists at all levels of law enforcement. had that been an average person, they would be in jail and charges would have been filed already. the excuse of waiting for tests results is so bogus.
63 agree | 74 disagree
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MH said:
The problems the county police have been seeing lately, I am certain this officer will be punished. I was 10 minutes behind this accidnet that morning that could have been me and my wife. My sympathy to his family and friends. It sounds like he was a good family man.
63 agree | 54 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
There is absolutely no excuse for an officer too leave the scene of an accident. Police officers have to be held to a higher standard and punished much more severely when they break the law.
65 agree | 89 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The MSP release names all the time, unless it involves a "brother officer".
60 agree | 73 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Driver/Officer should have stayed at the scene to render aid and assistance. He has no excuse to leave without doing so. He must now take responsibility for his actions or lack thereof.
87 agree | 79 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
He was a human being just like you with a family.
78 agree | 64 disagree
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