Kings County man reportedly abandons vehicle in road, tries to hitchhike away from deputies
A Kings County man was recently arrested after reportedly abandoning his vehicle in the road and attempting to hitchhike away from deputies.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, August 6, deputies responded to the area of 16th and Jersey Avenues to investigate a report of a man — later identified as Richard Martinez — abandoning his vehicle in the middle of the road.
Deputies reportedly found a shirtless Martinez nearby, attempting to flag down passing cars. Martinez refused to walk over to the deputies and managed to flag down a red truck. Deputies intercepted him as he was getting inside and tried to pull him out but one of the truck’s occupants, identified as Shelly Wesley, held onto him.
Martinez continued to struggle until K-9 Deputy Willie was brought onto the scene. Deputies gave him one more chance to go peacefully before Willie was deployed. Martinez continued to resist and was ultimately pulled to the ground by the K-9 Deputy, at which time the deputies were able to place Martinez in handcuffs despite his continued resistance, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Martinez was later treated for injuries at a local medical center and booked on three outstanding warrants — a no-bail warrant out of Fresno County, another warrant out of Tulare County, and a third out of Kings County — as well as new charges of resisting an executive officer and resisting arrest.
Shelly Wesley was also arrested for interfering with Martinez’s arrest, as well as on two outstanding warrants that were discovered during a records check. She was also charged with possession of a dirk or dagger after deputies reportedly found one concealed in her hair, the Sheriff’s Office said.
