ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) — An Albuquerque man with a history of violent confrontations is staying locked up for now. KRQE first reported on Martin Sandoval after he beat a man with a baton while working as a security guard at a Walgreens. This time, he’s accused of assaulting a tow truck driver near a city park.
Albuquerque man accused of attacking man and making a threat
The judge, in the latest case against 28-year-old Martin Sandoval, ruled his behavior is too dangerous to let him out on the street. “He seems to be in this fantasy world where he’s the cop or the enforcer of fixing society’s ills,” said the judge.
According to Albuquerque police, a tow truck driver was with his girlfriend at Tower Park last month, waiting for his next call, when he noticed a laser being pointed at him. He went across the street and found Sandoval wearing full tactical gear, carrying a rifle with a laser sight, along with a handgun and a knife. Police say Sandoval hit the tow truck driver over the head, threatened to shoot and stab him, and used racial slurs.
Today, Sandoval’s defense argued, there’s evidence the other man’s behavior was confrontational. “The alleged victim’s reaction – for whatever reason — the gentleman chose to escalate, approach whoever’s shining the laser, and approach him in a very angry manner,” said the defense…