VISTA: Deputy Allegedly Attacked by Crowd While Trying to Issue Ticket

Seven people were arrested and one person was shocked with a stun gun Tuesday morning after a disruptive crowd tried to prevent a deputy from citing a man for a traffic violation, authorities said.

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The driver, who was later identified as Ismael Martinez, 51, did not have a license, and neither did his passenger, Francisco Martinez, Sgt. Mike Arens said.

The driver began calling people to come to the scene while the deputy was ticketing him, Duffy said. The driver refused to stop calling people and struck the deputy on the hand, he said.

The deputy was arresting the driver when the passenger got out of the car and attacked the deputy, Arens said. The three struggled.

A tow truck driver who was standing nearby jumped into the fight to help the deputy, Duffy and Arens said. The deputy used his stun gun to shock the passenger during the struggle.

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A few minutes later, about 25 people showed up in response to the driver’s earlier phone call, Arens said. Most of them were men and appeared to be the driver’s relatives.

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Raul Martinez, 25; Alfredo Martinez, 27; Jorge Martinez, 20; Fernando Martinez, 26; and Aldo Martinez, 22, were arrested on suspicion of crimes including refusing to disperse, inciting a riot, assaulting a peace officer and criminal threats, Arens said.

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