LEVITTOWN, NY – A 34-year-old man beat a woman after throwing a rock at her minivan, then attacked the officer who arrested him, officials said.
(Nassau County Police Department)
James Martins allegedly tossed a large rock at the 36-year-old woman’s car as she pulled out from a Starbucks, damaging the front passenger’s side headlight and hood, police said. The woman pulled over and was on the phone with emergency officials when Martins punched her in he face. She fell to the ground and Martins took her iPhone, then punched her again, knocking the woman out.
After the woman regained consciousness, she tried to get up and Martins struck her in the face again, police said.
“Her face looked like someone put a grenade in it,” witness Tom Doran said. “Her whole face was filled with blood.”
The woman’s 3-year-old daughter was in the back of the minivan at the time. She was not injured.
Martins fled the scene after a group of people yelled at him.
“He seemed out of his mind,” Doran said.
Doran chased after Martins and pointed him out to a passing police car. After officers spotted Martins, he allegedly grabbed an officer’s shirt and tore off his badge and struck and officer in the face. The officer was taken to the hospital with a head injury. His glasses were broken and his vision is blurred.
The woman, who did not know Martins, suffered a leg injury, bloody nose, multiple lacerations to her head and face, a concussion and numerous lumps and bruises to her forehead.
Martins was charged with robbery, assault, criminal mischief , endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of marijuana.
His attorney said Martins has a serious alcohol problem and that drinking played a factor in the rampage.
