911 dispatchers get all manner of stressful calls, but rarely do they get a person calling who is about to commit a crime. A 911 dispatcher in Longmont, Colorado received a chilling call near midnight on Saturday, May 30, 2015. A man responded to the dispatcher’s question of why he called by saying “I’m going to kill my wife.” He hung up, but the dispatchers were able to trace the source of the call.
Officers responded to the residence, and the first officer on the scene heard a woman screaming from inside the apartment. Shortly after, the female came frantically running outside and clung to the back of the officer saying “He tried to kill me…he has a knife.”
Soon afterwards, Richard Martinez came outside carrying two large butcher style knives. Even after being commanded to drop the knives at gunpoint, Martinez refused. Fortunately, another officer appeared as backup as the first officer on the scene was preparing to shoot Martinez. The second officer used a stun gun to subdue the man, and Martinez then dropped the knives and collapsed to the ground.
The dispute began earlier in the night when Martinez became enraged at the woman for talking to other men in a bar. Once at home, he choked his wife and held a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her. Fortunately, an unknown sound distracted him, and she was able to escape.
The victim—Yolanda Martinez—is traumatized, but still alive thanks to the dispatchers who were able to trace the call and quickly get officers on the scene.
So far, Martinez has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, felony menacing, domestic violence, and third-degree assault. He may face additional charges and is currently being held in the Boulder County jail.