A stand-off between SWAT officers and a suspected kidnapper in North Texas ended in an arrest Monday afternoon.
Multiple law enforcement agencies arrived at a home in the 2600 block of Timberleaf Drive in Carrollton around 6:30 p.m. after learning about a kidnapping incident that reportedly unfolded earlier in the day.
Ivan Martinez, 44, had allegedly been involved in a domestic disturbance at approximately 2 p.m. in the 2000 block of Mallard Drive in Lewisville. According to WFAA, Martinez showed up at his ex-girlfriend’s house and argued with her outside. He then allegedly hit her before shoving her into his car and driving away.
Martinez reportedly released the woman. She made her way back to her house in an Uber. The woman had minor injuries, and she directed authorities to the house Martinez allegedly took her to against her will, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
The police response to the alleged kidnapping involved the Carrollton Police Department, the Dallas Police Department’s SWAT team, and the Lewisville Police Department’s SWAT team. Martinez was talked into surrendering himself to authorities around 9 p.m., WFAA reported.
Martinez was charged with aggravated kidnapping and family violence assault.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, kidnappings have been on the rise in Dallas, with most of the victims logged by the Dallas Police Department recorded as women and girls of color. As of September 11, there have been 127 reported kidnappings within the city limits this year, a 14.4% increase over the 111 clocked in the same period in 2022.
DPD has been seriously short-staffed in recent years, maintaining a police force of under 3,200 officers. A City analysis advises that a city the size of Dallas needs about three officers for every 1,000 residents, putting an ideal staffing level at around 4,000 officers.
The shortage has been felt in Downtown Dallas, which consistently logs higher rates of criminal activity than nearby Fort Worth’s downtown area. A dedicated police unit patrols the latter alongside private security officers.