Wanted suspect clears two rooftops and two fences before being arrested by police
SAN JOSE – 21-year-old Hispanic male suspect Eliseo Montoya Martinez was arrested on Wednesday, April 1, for violating PC 69, resisting or obstructing an officer; 243 (B), battery on a peace officer; and 594B, vandalism; along with outstanding warrants.
Charges were brought against Martinez by the San Jose Police Department on April 7 through the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office. The case filed against Martinez alleges that during an initial contact with his mother and girlfriend, Martinez had refused to surrender, and had fled from police before being arrested and booked into the Santa Clara Main Jail on new charges for refusing to appear on three prior warrants for his arrest.
Martinez was wanted for three separate warrants for PC 148 (a)(1), resisting arrest, PC 25850(a)(1) carrying a loaded firearm, and H&S 11350, possession of a controlled substance. He had been arrested on February 17 by San Jose police on those charges, along with being under the influence, attempting to remove a firearm from an officer, and committing a felony while on bail. He had been arrested twice in September of last year – on the 20th for DUI and resisting arrest, and on the 23rd for possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of stolen property.
The mother of the suspect was contacted by police and had agreed to help them apprehend her son earlier that day. However, when police arrived at the residence, they made contact with the suspect’s girlfriend, Stephanie Saldana, who she said was leaving and that Eliseo was not at home. A short time later a woman was seen leaving through the rear entrance, and loud footsteps were heard on top of the apartment complex, which is located at 180 Baroni Avenue in San Jose.
According to police, “Officers were conducting an attempt to locate the suspect, who had three active warrants for his arrest.” The suspect police were trying to locate had managed to climb on top of a nearby residence, which was followed by a felony foot pursuit by officers.
Martinez went from the rooftops of the apartments on Baroni (right) to the buildings on Truckee (left).
The suspect ran along the top of the complex. He stopped and then jumped over a wooden fence to reach the ground. Once down from the rooftop, he kept running. Officers yelled out “stop”, but the suspect continued, again jumping on top of adjoining rooftops of homes at 242 Truckee Lane. He then jumped down between two adjoining apartment buildings while officers ran alongside the buildings in order to try and stop him.
Martinez jumped a fence at 248 Truckee Lane into the backyard of a San Jose resident, who saw the suspect and began to yell at him to get out of his yard. Officers contact the resident, who told them the “guy” was in his backyard. The tenants were asked to leave the apartment while police located the suspect. Eliseo was found while trying to hide, and was arrested.
However, while he had been trying to escape, Eliseo climbed along the water pipes of the building, stepping on and breaking a PVC pipe, which was now flowing with water. Martinez had also broken parts of the fence when he climbed it in his attempt to hide in the backyard. He is now facing the additional charges of vandalism for the damage he caused. He is also being charged with battery on a peace officer because he kicked one of them in the face while trying to avoid being handcuffed.
His mother was not arrested, but could face charges pending an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office. His girlfriend, Stephanie Saldana, is also facing possible aiding and abetting charges for helping Martinez try to escape from officers during the initial contact. The next hearing for Martinez has been scheduled for April 22, 2015 in Dept 38 at 9:00 AM in front of the Honorable Daniel Nishigaya.
