Daniel Hernandez Martinez, a 29-year-old Venezuelan immigrant who arrived in New York City on June 27, has been arrested six times and faced 14 criminal charges within his first two months in the United States, as reported by the New York Post.
Martinez's criminal activities began a day after his arrival and have escalated from petty theft to assault, including attacks on three civilians and two police officers.
Martinez's first alleged crime occurred at a Brooklyn Costco, where he reportedly stole a variety of items including a jar of Nutella, slippers, hats, shoes, Gillette razor blades, and Dove body wash. He was charged with petty larceny and subsequently released.
On July 6, Martinez allegedly robbed a Duane Reade in Manhattan, stealing a toolkit. His criminal activities took a violent turn the following day when he reportedly brandished a large knife at a security guard who attempted to stop him from stealing a bag of chips and toothpaste at another Duane Reade. Despite being charged with menacing, Martinez was released on his own recognizance due to the charge not being bail-eligible.
On July 31, Martinez reportedly attacked Jeffrey Bradac, a 52-year-old journalist, with a bike tire outside the Row Hotel. Bradac, who was in the area reporting on the migrant crisis, had previously interviewed Martinez and expressed surprise at the unprovoked attack. "He hit me with the bike tire and I called police," Bradac said. "Then, he jumped the Dumpster and a really fit cop ran after him but the guy got away."
In August, Martinez allegedly assaulted a woman in Midtown, dragging her across the floor by her hair and kicking her. He was charged with menacing, assault, criminal mischief, and weapon possession. Within a week, he was arrested twice more for menacing and theft, using a metal pipe to break locks and steal bicycles in Times Square.
A veteran police officer, with over two decades of service, expressed concern over the situation. "This is not an isolated incident. These migrants are getting arrested quite often here, and we really dont know who they are. They really dont have ID. Theyre not being vetted properly, but some of them are committing some of the most violent crimes here.
Prosecutors sought a $10,000 bail and $10,000 bond for Martinez's assault on the police officer, but the judge set it at $5,000. Martinez was subsequently sent to Rikers Island. This case underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement and the judicial system in dealing with criminal activities by recent immigrants, raising questions about the adequacy of current vetting processes.
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