He was acquitted of murder yesterday afternoon and walked free after two years in jail but tonight Gregory Martinez is back behind bars. He had been accused of the murder of Constable Bendicto Coy on Christmas Eve of 2005. A jury deliberated and acquitted him after which he was sent home. But there's no happily ever after for Martinez. He was picked up again early this morning and his family is not happy. Here is their story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Phyllis Fuller says that at 1 this morning - police stormed into her home on West Street and literally kicked down this bedroom door and left this mess.
Phyllis Fuller,
"They came in the wee hours of the morning and when they came in the wee hours of the morning, they bashed my door. They broke in the door and went in and you can see how inside the house looks, how terrible it looks. They broke up the door, all my stove, and everything destroyed."
Police were looking for this man: Gregory Martinez - who is Fuller's son in law. Yesterday a jury declared him not guilty of murdering a policeman and fuller says the harassment from police started immediately after.
Keith Swift,
Greg was released around 4 or 3?
Phyllis Fuller,
"At four yesterday evening he was released, the jurors found him not guilty."
Keith Swift,
And when did the police come for him?
Phyllis Fuller,
"After one this morning because they heard a firearm was discharged in the area."
Keith Swift,
Did they find any gun in your house?
Phyllis Fuller,
"None and they didn't even search the entire house. They just want to come and, as the street people would say, come and punk the man. Now they have him at the police station from early morning, this morning and they don't want to take no food, they don't want anyone to talk to him or anything. And for what, we are asking the question."
This afternoon police officers met resistance on West Street when they tried to detain another man - Avon Fuller - who is fuller's nephew. She wants the harassment to stop.
Phyllis Fuller,
"Who will be responsible for this now? Who is the one that will be responsible? Who will fix my doors and my things which they destroyed? But they have a target for Mr. Martinez. All of them have a target and are throwing words. Officers shouldn't throw words like females to a person who is acquitted. Go and find the person. Charge the person."
Up to when we checked at 6 this evening, Gregory Martinez was still detained. He is yet to be charged.
