Image courtesy of Whitemarsh PD
The man. was attempting to flee a behavioral health facility.
Whitemarsh Township Police Department said that a Maryland man injured medics as he attempted to flee care at Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital.
Police said that Chase J. Martinez, 26, of Waldorf, Maryland, assaulted medics on location during a patient drop-off at the local behavioral health facility. Police were told, according to reports, that a white male, 26, with dark hair, a black T-shirt, and black jeans and no shoes was last seen running toward Germantown Academy fleeing from the facility.
Reports stated that Martinez attempted to gain entry into multiple cars as he fled, including a vehicle occupied by a woman who told police Martinez attempted to open the door then “banged on the window when the door did not open.” She said she was “frightened and left the location.”
According to reports, police tracked Martinez to the 400 block of Bethlehem Pike, near a residential property’s driveaway. Police said they told him to stop, but Martinez ran through bushes, when he fell to the ground. Police were able to take him into custody without incident, said reports.
Police continued the investigation, finding that the medics who were assaulted, who provided testimony to their attacks to police on body-worn cameras, and found Martinez was involved in a similar incident with the same medic unit around 4:30 a.m. in Upper Dublin Township.
Reports state that, during the assault, Martinez unbuckled his restraints and began striking the medics with closed fists, in the face three to five times, as well as kicking his partner while he attempted to restrain Martinez’s legs.
Police said they were able to return Martinez back to the behavioral hospital for a 303 hold.
For events on Sept. 30, Martinez is facing a felony charge of aggravated assault, with attempting to cause serious bodily injury to designated individuals, as well as misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.
Martinez is being held in county jail unable to post a $10,000 monetary bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 6 at 11:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Dara Nasatir.
According to court documents, Martinez is facing a variety of other charges related to separate incidents, in addition to those allegedly occurring on Sept. 30.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
