A probationary Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s Officer has been arrested for hitting a woman who was in custody and in handcuffs.
The woman, 31-year-old Mayra Martinez, was arrested Wednesday night at Scores Bar on University. She was working her first day after recently moving from Orlando. Officers noticed a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” on Martinez’ breath, according to her arrest report.
The report further says the Scores’ manager saw Martinez have four shots of alcohol before quitting the job, at which point he asked her to leave several times, but she stayed in the parking lot. Martinez “became irate and belligerent” when she was told she was trespassed from the business, and the report says officers believed she was drunk to the point where she couldn’t make rational decisions.
Martinez resisted arrest at that time, even kicking and biting 26-year-old Officer Akinyemi Borisade, who struck her on her lower back to get her to comply. She continued resisting even after she was in the patrol car, according to the report, by kicking the rear windows and doors.
Relating to those incidents, Martinez was arrested for trespassing and resisting with violence.
While waiting to be processed at the Jail, video surveillance shows Martinez- in handcuffs- walk up to Borisade and other officers.
He can be seen pushing her back to a wall, at which point she tries to kick him, but misses, and then kicks again. Borisade is then seen on the video hitting Martinez several times.
“There are ways that this could have been dealt with without striking her,” says JSO Undersheriff Pay Ivey.
Borisade stopped when another officer came up to him and put a hand on his arm. Corrections Officers then notified a police supervisor about what happened, and ultimately Borisade was arrested for battery. Ivey wouldn’t comment on whether Borisade gave any justification for his actions.
Borisade was hired in March 2015, and Ivey says he has no other incidents on his record. He has been fired, not put on leave. Because he is probationary, Borisade doesn’t have the same civil service protections that a full officer would have during the investigation, according to Ivey. Borisade can request a “name clearing” hearing in order to keep his police certification.
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