LUFKIN, Texas — A Lufkin man wanted on aggravated assault charges was arrested Wednesday night, June 24th, after police located him walking to a gas station on North Timberland Drive.
According to the Lufkin Police Department, 41-year-old Javier Dejesus Martinez was taken into custody near the intersection of Timberland and Atkinson drives without incident.
Martinez has been charged by Lufkin police with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a second-degree felony, following an investigation into allegations of family violence. He is being held in the Angelina County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
The Angelina County Sheriff's Office has also charged Martinez with Continuous Violence Against the Family. No bond has been set on that charge.
Lufkin Police Detective Reagan Matthews said the investigation began after Martinez allegedly assaulted the victim while the two were staying at a motel in Lufkin on Tuesday. Investigators allege Martinez strangled the victim and struck them multiple times.
The following day, the victim went to work at a convenience store along U.S. Highway 69 North in the community of Central with plans to leave Martinez. According to investigators, Martinez, who worked at a neighboring convenience store, saw the victim in the parking lot and allegedly attacked them again.
Detectives said Martinez repeatedly punched the victim with a closed fist, knocked the victim to the ground, and dragged the victim across the pavement.
Witnesses photographed and recorded the assault but told deputies Martinez threatened to kill anyone who contacted law enforcement and claimed he was not afraid of police or confrontation.
Authorities said Martinez fled the scene in the victim's vehicle before witnesses contacted the Angelina County Sheriff's Office.
When deputies interviewed the victim, they learned about the earlier assault at the Lufkin motel, prompting Lufkin police detectives to open a separate investigation.
Detective Matthews later located the victim at a local hospital and arranged for an intimate partner violence examination through Harold's House, which documented both recent and older injuries.
After obtaining an arrest warrant, Matthews alerted patrol officers beginning their Wednesday evening shift. At approximately 11 p.m., officers recognized Martinez walking along North Timberland Drive and arrested him without incident.
Detectives with the Angelina County Sheriff's Office continue to investigate the assault that occurred at the convenience store and are working alongside Lufkin police on the case.
Authorities said Martinez is currently on parole following a federal prison sentence for drug possession and drug trafficking offenses.
