Indio officers plead not guilty to excessive force charges

Two Indio police officers pleaded not guilty Monday to criminal charges involving alleged excessive use of force during a Sept. 12 arrest.

Charles Holloway is charged with one felony count of assault by a public officer, and Gerardo Martinez faces a misdemeanor accessory count.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Indio Police Chief Richard Twiss asked the department to investigate the case after a video tape of an arrest was turned over to the Indio Police Department.

The victim in the alleged beating is 24-year-old Ruben Joshua Martinez (pictured below). The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office said he was wanted on a felony warrant, which led to the altercation.

According to court documents, the felony warrant was issued after Ruben allegedly pulled a handgun on someone at a home on Balboa Street in Coachella on December, 21, 2013. Witnesses said he became upset when he saw some of his items being removed from the home. The victims called police and said they believed he was dangerous.

Ruben Martinez was also on parole at the time of the incident, and that’s when the arrest warrant was issued.

The warrant charged him with multiple felonies, including assault with a deadly weapon, terrorist threats and violating parole. He’s currently being jailed in Blythe.

After investigating the alleged beating, the sheriff’s department submitted a criminal case to the D.A.’s office against both Holloway and Gerardo Martinez.

A Superior Court Judge issued a felony arrest warrant for Holloway on Monday alleging one count of assault under the color of authority. The judge also issued a misdemeanor arrest warrant for Gerardo Martinez, alleging one count of being an accessory after the fact.

Upon learning of the warrants, both Holloway and Gerardo Martinez surrendered themselves to Riverside County Superior Court in Indio.

Both officers are free on bond and due back in court on Nov. 21, according to court records. Booking photos of the officers were never taken because they turned themselves into a judge upon hearing of the charges; they were never booked into jail.

The officers remain on paid administrative leave, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Loureiro of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (760) 955-2777.

Ruben Martinez is due back in court Wednesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio for a felony conference hearing regarding his unrelated felony charges.