PRESS RELEASE: Assault on Police Officers / Shoplifting Incident 
LOCATION: Sequoia Station, 1071 El Camino Real, Redwood City
DATE/TIME: July 26, 2024, 8:28 p.m.
On July 26, 2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Redwood City Police Department officers were dispatched to Sequoia Station on report of a panhandler causing a disturbance. Two officers arrived on scene and observed a subject matching the description provided by the reporting party. The subject saw the officers, cursed at them, and then entered Safeway before they could contact him. Moments later the same subject exited the store, now carrying two glass bottles of alcohol. It was apparent to the officers that he had not paid for the alcohol as he was not in the store long enough to have checked out. One of the officers attempted to question the subject about the alcohol and he immediately struck the officer in the face with one of the bottles. Both officers attempted to detain the subject and requested additional police units. The subject fought with officers and resisted their efforts to place him in handcuffs. During the struggle, the officers attempted to use their Tasers to subdue the subject, but the deployments were ineffective. A large crowd gathered and displayed antagonistic behavior towards the officers. San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to assist with separating the crowd from the arresting officers and provided scene security. The subject was eventually subdued and officers took him into custody.
The subject, identified as Aaron Martinez (31) of Redwood City, was transported to a local hospital for a medical check. After he was medically cleared, officers booked him into the Maguire Correctional Facility on charges of theft, assault with a deadly weapon, assault on an officer, and resisting arrest.
Three officers were injured during the struggle with Martinez. One officer suffered a fractured ankle and another suffered a cut to the head that required stitches. Both were treated at a local hospital and released. A third officer suffered a minor cut to the hand that did not require medical treatment.
Captain Ashley Osborne
Redwood City Police Department
650-780-7654
[email protected]
Address/Location
Redwood City Police Department
1301 Maple St
Redwood City, CA 94063
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 650-780-7100