SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — A duo was arrested on Wednesday after they allegedly attacked a man at gunpoint, believing that he was scamming them, only to apologize, realizing that it was all a misunderstanding.
Dona Ana County jail records show two suspects with the first and last names, Pablo Montoya Martinez, 48, and Pablo Martinez, 31, were arrested on the 5830 block of Quail Drive and are facing several charges, including kidnapping, aggravated assault and residential burglary.
According to the arrest report, the charges stem from an incident that occurred on Tuesday, in which Martinez Sr. and Martinez Jr. (it is unknown if or how they are related) allegedly attacked a man whom they believed was scamming them out of their money, as Pablo Sr. is looking to buy a property in Anthony, New Mexico.
In the report, the victim described to investigators that his daughter told him that Martinez Sr. was going to swing by his home to drop off $5,000 that day, after making a $10,000 payment the day before.
The victim, however, said that when Martinez Sr. arrived with Martinez Jr., they proceeded to attack him, saying that when they shook hands, they grabbed him, pulled him into the vehicle, beat him and held him at gunpoint, accusing him of scamming them.
The victim then described that they forced him into his garage, then said that Martinez Sr. hit him with the gun while Martinez Jr. chased his girlfriend, who had witnessed the assault and ran into the home.
The victim told investigators that it all ended after he showed them “deposit slips,” at which point the duo apologized and said that it was all a misunderstanding.
In the report, investigators described watching home surveillance video that corroborates the victim’s statements.
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According to the report, investigators spoke with Martinez Jr., who said Martinez Sr. had asked him to accompany him to the victim’s address, as the plan was to deliver a “fake envelope” and possibly take pictures of the victim, whom they believed was scamming them.
Martinez Jr. then described the confrontation with the victim from his perspective.
Martinez Jr. told investigators that when they arrived, he climbed out of the vehicle, shook the victim’s hand and then, when Martinez Sr. asked the victim about the money, Martinez Sr. became upset when the victim laughed and asked, “What money?”
After that, Martinez Jr. said he doesn’t remember what happened, but told investigators that Martinez Sr. did have a gun, but denied that he punched the victim.
When investigators asked Martinez Jr. about what happened in the garage, Martinez Jr. said he didn’t know.
Regarding pursuing the victim’s girlfriend, Martinez Jr. said he knocked on the door and the girlfriend opened it.
When the investigator pressed if he kicked the door, Martinez Jr. reportedly said he might have.
In the end, Martinez Jr. confirmed that after the victim’s girlfriend pulled out the deposit slips, both suspects realized they had made a mistake.
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