Family says man accused of chasing police with butcher knife "has been battling his mental health"



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Alfonso Martinez, facing criminal charges -- accused of chasing two Milwaukee police officers with a large butcher knife before police found two bodies in a home near Richards and Auer had an unusual day in court on Friday, December 5th.

Alfonso Martinez



Martinez was taken into custody at the home near Richards and Auer last Monday, December 1st -- before police discovered the bodies of two men inside the home.

Melisa Martinez is Alfonso Martinez' sister. She's also the daughter and niece of the two men found dead inside the home.

"We are holding up as best we can. We had no idea anything like this would ever happen. We are still pretty in shock at this time," Melisa Martinez told FOX6 News on Friday.

Police were initially called out to do a welfare check at the home on Richards and Auer last Monday.

An officer spoke with the citizen, who explained she hadn’t seen her neighbors in days — with that citizen telling police it was unusual one of the neighbors hadn’t been outside to walk his dog. The criminal complaint says the witness told police she had noticed the front door of the home was open for three days, and loud music was coming from the home.

The neighbor told police one of the people who lived in the home, Alfonso Martinez, has mental health issues.

The officer called for backup, and another officer arrived on scene. Then, the complaint says these two officers approached the home, knocking on the door.

When they didn’t receive a response at the front door, the complaint says the officers walked around to the rear of the home, and after not receiving a response at the rear door, an officer entered into the foyer area and observed what appeared to be a stack of magazines on the stove, smoldering. When the officer announced his presence, the complaint says he heard a loud rustling sound from within the home.

The officer fled the home, running back toward the front of the home.

As he was running, the officer observed Martinez shirtless, holding a large butcher knife with the bladed part in a downward position, saying “I’m going to kill you,” according to the complaint.

The officer yelled at the other officer to run, as Martinez, with the butcher knife in his hand, began to chase the officers, saying “I’m going to kill you.” The complaint says Martinez chased the officers around vehicles parked in the area.

Eventually, Martinez dropped the knife, and police were able to take him into custody.

Later, Melisa Martinez' father and uncle were found dead inside the home.

On Friday, December 5th, Alfonso Martinez was supposed to make his first court appearance --  facing two counts of first degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon for allegedly chasing the officers with the butcher knife.

Martinez' attorney says he has concerns over Martinez' competency to proceed in the case against him.

"At this time I am raising competency. When I went to speak to him in the solitary bullpen, he would not answer to me, only shouting, and he banged his head against the glass window of the bullpen. So at this point I do not believe he can contact or speak with me," Martinez' attorney said.

Martinez' hearing was held in back to lessen the likelihood Martinez could injure himself or anyone else.

"We know he has been handling his mental health issues for years," Melisa Martinez says of her brother.

Melisa Martinez says her brother is bipolar, schizophrenic and delusional.

"My brother is not a bad person. He is not. We are not angry with him because we know he is sick -- so we love him. We hope the best for him. We're trying to move past this as a family," Melisa Martinez said.

Now, Melisa grieves for her father, Alfonso, and her uncle Manuel -- a duo who came to America when they were only 17 years old.

"My dad, he has always been around for us -- always there to help us whenever we needed something, anything like that. Always there for us. My uncle Manuel was always there for us to help us with homework or if we just wanted to talk," Melisa Martinez said.

It is important to note, currently, the younger Alfonso Martinez has NOT been charged in connection with the deaths of his father and uncle.

The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with memorial expenses for the elder Alfonso Martinez and Manuel Martinez. Additionally, an account has been set up at U.S. Bank. Donations can be made to the "Martinez Family Fund" at any U.S. Bank branch.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser is planned for Monday, December 8th from 5:00 p.m. to close at Cat Daddy's Too on S. 7th Street in Milwaukee.

Related stories: