Man Who Escaped From DPD Headquarters Has Extensive Criminal History
DENVER (CBS4) - A sex offender is on the run after slipping out of handcuffs and escaping from Denver Police headquarters.
Eugene Martinez, 48, got away shortly after being arrested on Wednesday, and it happened in the middle of the day at the Denver Police Administration Building downtown, where officers are constantly coming and going.
Martinez had been wanted for failure to register as a sex offender, and Denver officers looking to apprehend him waited at the downtown bus station until they spotted him.
After arresting him they took him to the downtown headquarters.
"We brought him in, handcuffed him to a bench inside the building. We went upstairs to set up a room to do another interview with him. At that point in time, somehow, while we were upstairs he was able to escape his cuffs and he fled the building," Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.
Martinez was only in custody for about 45 minutes.
Martinez has an extensive criminal history that involves sex offenses, burglary and assault. Most of the crimes took place in Pueblo.
Most recently records show Denver police arrested Martinez in May for indecent exposure to a minor.
In letters Martinez sent to a Denver judge he begged for the judge to "please dismiss these charges." He wrote "I did not expose myself to anyone."
Mike Franco owns a Denver-area apartment building and told CBS4 Martinez lived there with his brother for part of March and April.
"Did you know he was a registered sex offender?" CBS4's Jodi Brooks asked.
"Until the second time when the police showed up we kind of forced the issue," Franco said.
Denver police said they want to get Martinez back in custody as soon as possible.
Anyone who sees Martinez or knows his whereabouts is asked to call police in Denver. They say not attempt to contact him, but call 911 immediately.
Martinez is about 5-foot-5 and weighs about 120 pounds. He has a tattoo on his chest of a guitar with wings and the name "Diane." He also has a scar on his forehead and was last seen wearing a black zip-up hoodie and black jeans. Martinez had blue sweat pants under his jeans.
Anyone with information regarding Martinez is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash reward up to $2,000.
