Sequim Police Officer Daniel Martinez conducted a traffic stop on May 19th of 2022. He did not know that the driver is suspected to have killed his mother prior to driving erratically through Sequim. What he soon experienced was an attack on him by the driver that would require all of his training and experience to successfully defend himself from that attack.
State laws exist to dictate that investigations of police, particularly those involving the use of force by Officers, are done impartially and objectively, this typically being done by using outside investigators. Community representatives are included in each investigation of significant use of force by Officers to further ensure the process is objective and independent.
The Kitsap County Incident Response Team who immediately responded to investigate this incident conducted their review professionally and thoroughly; the process was witnessed by local community representatives. Their investigative findings have been further reviewed by the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney, Mark Nichols. His thorough and well-documented review concludes that Officer Martinez was well within his rights to defend himself.
“We are happy that this process is concluded and has determined what we have always known. Officer Martinez was doing his job and used his skills and knowledge while doing so to save his own life and take his attacker into custody. We again offer our sincere thanks to three of our local citizens who came to Officer Martinez’s assistance”, Police Chief Sheri Crain.
Daniel Anselmo, James “Mike” Blouin, and Ryan Ross received the Sequim Police Department’s Citizen Commendation award and a City of Sequim Proclamation recognizing their heroic actions in assisting Officer Daniel Martinez, who recently received the Sequim Police Department Purple Heart award. The award states:
On the morning of May 19th, 2022, Officer Daniel Martinez was involved in a potentially life-threatening incident during which he sustained serious injuries that later required he be transported and treated at the hospital. Officer Martinez demonstrated strong reserve to follow through and successfully take the suspect into custody after a long and arduous physical fight while incapacitated due to a serious injury sustained to his right arm. Therefore, in accordance to Sequim Police Department Policy 1030.4, Officer Daniel Martinez is hereby awarded the Purple Heart for his actions that day.
Read the Clallam County Prosecutor Review of the Case.