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Monroe County commissioner accused of domestic violence

Monroe County commissioner arrested for domestic violence is released from jail

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A county commissioner who represents Key West residents was behind bars in Miami-Dade on Wednesday after being arrested on domestic battery allegations.

Monroe County Commissioner Eddie Martinez was arrested Tuesday night after an alleged incident at a family home in Hialeah earlier in the day that led to his daughter calling 911.

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Martinez, 46, was elected to the county commission in November 2020. According to an arrest report, domestic violence accusations against him go much further back, but they become more public now that he is a commissioner.

Commissioner from Key West accused of battery against wife

Police say Martinez’s 13-year-old daughter hid in a closet and called 911 on Tuesday morning, saying her dad was getting violent with her mother and throwing things.

His daughters told police that their father is on prescription medications and that when he is off his medication he is known to be violent, the arrest report says.

The family on Wednesday declined to talk about what happened at the home in Hialeah where Martinez grew up.

Police documented a marital fight at a bar Monday night, with Martinez’s wife leaving and telling him to take an Uber home.

On Tuesday morning, still angry, Martinez is accused of throwing drawers and a pill bottle, hurting his wife.

Police say he denied the allegations but that the evidence shows otherwise.

Martinez was being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $1,500 bond.

He posted bond and was released from jail Wednesday evening, but did not say anything while walking from the exit to a vehicle.

This criminal case comes as Martinez fights a challenge to his election. He’s accused of being ineligible — of not even living in the Key West district when he beat the incumbent Heather Carruthers by less than half a percent last year.

Martinez, a land surveyor, claims he lived at his office on Truman Avenue. That case is still in play.

Martinez’s bio on the Monroe County website says he “is a professional land surveyor by trade with more than 30 years of experience” and that from 1996 to 2010 he was a pro bono professor at Miami-Dade Community College.

He became a full-time resident of the Florida Keys in 2010, his bio says.

Martinez represents District 3, which includes the western part of Key West.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has the power to suspend elected officials charged with crimes. His office said he is reviewing this case.


About the Authors
Glenna Milberg headshot

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."

Christian De La Rosa headshot

Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando and Panama City Beach.

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