BROWNWOOD, Texas — Brownwood Police Department officers are looking for Selso Ortiz Martinez, 35, who evaded arrest Thursday after an attempt to make contact with him failed when he drove away from them.
According to a BPD press release, at approximately 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 2, officers received information that Martinez was in the area of the Brownwood Public Library. Martinez has a felony warrant for his arrest for narcotics-related charges.
Officers arrived in that area and saw Martinez sitting in a parked sedan in the library parking. As officers drove into the parking lot, the release said Martinez left the scene in his vehicle and drove as if to elude officers.
For the general safety of the community, the vehicle pursuit was ended shortly after it began.
At approximately 12:20 p.m., officers received information that when Martinez fled from police officers he made his way to an address in the 2300 block of 12th Street where he unlawfully entered, brandishing a pistol.
Officers arrived in that area as Martinez ran out a back door and into an alleyway. They continued to pursue on foot while setting up a perimeter in the area.
According to the release, Martinez ran through alleyways, over fences and into various backyards. At one point, he unlawfully entered a home in the 2400 block of 13th Street, where he confronted the female homeowner and small children. The family was able to barricade themselves in a back bedroom, before fleeing to police officers positioned outside the window.
It was believed that Martinez was inside the home while officers were evacuating the family.
The Brown County Area SWAT team was contacted and arrived to help. At approximately 2 p.m., the SWAT team made entry into the house and confirmed it was clear and unoccupied. Martinez was not found in the home.
He is considered armed and dangerous. The release said he is has a slender build, is approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and weighs approximately 165 lbs., with short brown hair and possibly a goatee.
The investigation remains active and additional charges are anticipated, according to the Brownwood PD, who remind Brown County residents to report to police any information regarding Martinez. Residents who wish to remain anonymous can call Heart of Texas Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers pays rewards to citizens and tipsters for confidential criminal information regarding crimes in Brown and surrounding counties.
