A Fort Worth police officer has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in an off-duty shooting on Sept. 3 that left a driver hospitalized, police said in a news release Friday.
Police began investigating Officer William Martin after he allegedly shot at a driver on Interstate 35 following a collision. He was subsequently placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
Upon completion, police determined there was probable cause to charge aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the news release said. Police obtained a warrant for Martin’s arrest; he has since been booked into the Tarrant County Jail.
Following his arrest, Martin will be placed on seconded duty pending the assessment and completion of an investigation by Internal Affairs, police said in the press release.
This comes after Fort Worth residents demanded that Martin be held accountable. They argued that Martin’s actions during the Sept. 3 skirmish were part of a pattern of aggressive behavior and said he should be removed from the police department before residents were hurt.
Community activist Gerald Banks Sr. spoke about Martin’s involvement in the 2016 arrest of Jacqueline Craig, which became a national news story. He said the officer could kill someone if he’s not held accountable.
The officer called 911 late on the afternoon of Sept. 3 to report that he had been struck by a red Ford 150 pickup on I-35 west near the Morningside Drive exit, according to an initial police news release. Martin reported that the driver attempted to hit his vehicle during the chase, according to the news release.
According to police, the driver of the truck was hit several times by gunfire and was taken to the hospital.
Martin was placed on restricted duty on September 5. Restricted duty requires officers to have their badges and weapons confiscated and to be reassigned to administrative positions where they have no police powers.
While some Fort Worth city council members decided to reserve judgment on the shooting, Councilman Chris Nettles said he would like to see the audio of the 911 call made public.
Mayor Mattie Parker and Councilman Michael Crain said they were confident Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes would conduct the investigation expeditiously.
Martin has been with the police for 19 years and was assigned to the Support Bureau department at the time of the incident.
