Accused of chasing police with butcher knife before bodies found in home, mom says her son's "a good kid"
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 26-year-old Alfonso Martinez of Milwaukee is accused of chasing two Milwaukee police officers with a large butcher knife. After they had him in custody on Monday, December 1st, police found the bodies of two men in a home near Richards & Auer. It is important to note: Martinez has NOT been charged in connection with their deaths. The charges he's facing relate strictly to the alleged incident involving the butcher knife.
Alfonso Martinez
Martinez faces two counts of first degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon.
A criminal complaint filed against Martinez says a citizen contacted Milwaukee police on December 1st, requesting a welfare check on her neighbors.
"This was a routine call of check the welfare of citizens," Milwaukee Police Captain Thomas Stigler said.
An officer spoke with the citizen, who explained she hadn't seen her neighbors in days -- with that citizen telling police it was unusual one of the neighbors hadn't been outside to walk his dog. The complaint says the witness told police she had noticed the front door of the home was open for three days, and loud music was coming from the home.
The neighbor told police one of the people who lived in the home, Alfonso Martinez, has mental health issues.
The officer called for backup, and another officer arrived on scene. Then, the complaint says these two officers approached the home, knocking on the door.
"They went there knocking on that door having no idea what they were confronted with," Captain Stigler said.
When they didn't receive a response at the front door, the complaint says the officers walked around to the rear of the home, and after not receiving a response at the rear door, an officer entered into the foyer area and observed what appeared to be a stack of magazines on the stove, smoldering. When the officer announced his presence, the complaint says he heard a loud rustling sound from within the home.
The officer fled the home, running back toward the front of the home.
As he was running, the officer observed Martinez shirtless, holding a large butcher knife with the bladed part in a downward position, saying "I'm going to kill you," according to the complaint.
"They realized at that point that he was a mentally unstable person, so based on their experience, they thought they could use verbal dialogue to gain compliance and they were right," Captain Stigler said.
The officer yelled at the other officer to run, as Martinez, with the butcher knife in his hand, began to chase the officers, saying "I'm going to kill you." The complaint says Martinez chased the officers around vehicles parked in the area.
Eventually, Martinez dropped the knife, and police were able to take him into custody.
"The officers are very confident that they acted appropriately," Captain Stigler said.
One of the officers told other investigating officers this was the most frightening experience she has had as an officer, according to the complaint.
Again, Martinez is NOT charged in connection with the two bodies found inside that home near Richards and Auer. Police say their investigation into the deaths is ongoing. The case is being called a homicide.
FOX6 News spoke with Martinez' mother on Thursday, December 4th after these charges were filed.
"I know Alfonso didn't mean to do this. It wasn't him. It was his mental illness. My son is a good kid. He's helpful. He's loving. He'll bend over backwards to help someone, but he struggles with multiple mental health issues. I believe his dad and uncle forgive him. We love him no matter what. He is still family," Martinez' mother said.
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