SAN ANTONIO – Two men have been arrested after an off-duty officer for the San Antonio Independent School District was fatally run over by a vehicle outside a South Side restaurant early Saturday.
Jorge Lopez, 23, has been charged with capital murder in the death of SAISD Detective Cliff Martinez, said Officer Douglas Greene, public information officer with the San Antonio Police Department.
Lopez faces an additional charge of felony drug possession, county booking records show.
Greene said Lopez fled on foot after striking Martinez, who was working as a security guard at the IHOP in the 700 block of Hot Wells Boulevard early Saturday when a fight broke out.
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The officer managed to get the people who were fighting outside the restaurant, but the fight continued in the parking lot.
Authorities say two men then assaulted Martinez, got into a vehicle and ran him over on purpose. Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lopez, the suspected driver, ran over Martinez, reversed over him and drove over him again, according to an arrest affidavit.
Witnesses were able to point out where Lopez fled, Greene said, and he was apprehended at the location without incident.
Lopez was transported to Public Safety Headquarters for questioning before he was arrested. His bail has not yet been set, Greene said.
Meanwhile, Alfredo Martinez, 29, was booked on a capital murder charge Saturday night in the death of SAISD Detective Cliff Martinez, according to San Antonio police. He was taken into custody by the SAPD Street Crimes Unit along U.S. 281 South in unincorporated Bexar County.
Alfredo Martinez faces an additional charge of resisting arrest, according to county booking records.
Police are also questioning a 21-year-old man who is considered a person of interest.
Because the victim was a law enforcement officer, a charge of capital murder was automatic.
Police confirmed Detective Martinez was a 28-year veteran with SAISD.
“This is just a heartbreaking case,” Greene said. “We really want to express our condolences to the SAISD police, the SAISD family, and especially Mr. Martinez’s family, especially during this time of year."
“This is definitely an awful, awful incident.”
IHOP San Antonio said Martinez was a security guard for “many years.”
“The entire IHOP family joins the San Antonio community in mourning the tragic loss of Detective Cliff Martinez,” Hakim Group, franchisee for IHOP San Antonio, said in a statement. “He will forever be remembered for his care and dedication to protecting others and our thoughts are with the Martinez family during this heartbreaking time.”
IHOP San Antonio stated they will match money raised to up $30,000 in an online fundraiser.
In a statement, San Antonio ISD said:
“San Antonio ISD is deeply saddened to learn of the death of our Detective Cliff Martinez early this morning, while working off-duty at an I-HOP. He was a highly-respected member of the SAISD Police Department, who worked for the department for 28 years. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
San Antonio ISD is deeply saddened to learn of the death of our Detective Cliff Martinez early this morning, while working off-duty at an I-HOP. He was a highly-respected member of the SAISD Police Department, who worked for the department for 28 years. He will be greatly missed.
— SAISD (@SAISD) December 21, 2019