SJ man accused of injuring MH officers appears in court

A hearing for the San Jose man accused of fighting with police in an incident that left two officers with broken bones was rescheduled this week. 

Michael Martinez, 26, was in court Tuesday at South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill. The hearing was continued to April 3, according to South Santa Clara County Supervising Deputy District Attorney Steve Lowney. 

Martinez is charged with felony evading, assault with a deadly weapon, and two counts of resisting resulting in serious bodily injury to a peace officer.

He was arrested Dec. 14, 2011, when a Morgan Hill police officer on patrol ran a registration check on a suspicious tan vehicle that was traveling on Diana Avenue near Butterfield Boulevard.

The officer determined the vehicle was reported stolen out of Gilroy, and attempted to pull the motorist over, police said. 

The driver, Martinez, attempted to elude the officer and rammed the patrol car, police said.

The chase ended on Nina Lane, where Martinez crashed the car into a fence, according to police.

Officers ordered Martinez to exit the vehicle, but he refused, police said. He remained in the car and was seen moving around inside and reaching into his pockets and the glove compartment.

The officers decided to break the windows of the vehicle and remove Martinez, police said. Martinez continued to stay inside the vehicle, yelling at the officers and ignoring their commands.

The officers removed Martinez from the car by force. Once he was out of the vehicle, he became combative and resisted the officers’ attempts to restrain him, police said. After a physical altercation, police eventually took Martinez into custody.

During the altercation, Martinez suffered minor bruises and cuts, including bruises to his face and head, authorities said. He was taken to Saint Louise Regional Hospital, where he was medically cleared and later booked at Santa Clara County jail.

Two officers involved in the arrest suffered broken bones as a result of the altercation with Martinez, police said. One officer suffered a stress fracture in his arm, and the other a broken hand.

They were treated and released from Saint Louise Regional Hospital.

The assault with a deadly weapon charge stems from Martinez’ effort to use the stolen vehicle to injure the officers, Lowney said.