Three separate incidents reported within days of each other kept law enforcement officials busy in Hillsboro and Marion County.
The most recent incident involved a 36-year-old Hillsboro man, Ireneo Martinez, who walked into El Lorito Mexican Restaurant Thursday issuing threats to kill someone.
The 911 call was received at 4:11 p.m. saying there was “a man with a gun” making threats.
Arriving at the scene within minutes after the call, officers met with the alleged victim, Ricardo Madrigal Batello, 49, who shared an apartment with Martinez above the restaurant, said Dan Kinning, Hillsboro police chief, on Monday.
“Batello said he had gone to the apartment to retrieve some personal property,” Kinning said. “But Martinez confronted Batello about rent money, and at one point, pulled a gun from his back pocket.”
Kinning said Batello told officers that Martinez pointed the gun at him and told him to give him his rent money or he would shoot him.
“Martinez was arrested and booked (into the Marion County Jail) on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and criminal threat,” he said.
Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft said officers spoke to people in the restaurant, who directed them to Martinez’ upstairs apartment and Batello.
Entering the apartment, police found Martinez who allegedly made the threat and handcuffed and detained him until all the information was sorted out, Craft said.
“The handgun was found hidden in the apartment,” he added.
Craft said with the help of all law enforcement officials responding, their sound tactics in establishing a secure perimeter and contacting the suspect, the situation was handled without injuries to anyone.
“I firmly believe that the joint tactical response training that the law enforcement departments in Marion County practice together helped to resolve this situation in this manner,” he said.
As of press time, Martinez remains in the county jail.
Domestic battery case
The second incident happened four days earlier at 7:33 p.m. May 1 at the Ampride Convenience Store, 512 East D St. when officers were alerted by a 911 caller to an assault, Kinning said.
When a police officer arrived, he was met by the victim and store employee, Jennifer L. Rogers, 36, along with Elizabeth D. Bromley, 25, who came from the attached Subway store.
“The victim advised that her husband, Jerrod P. Rogers, had entered the store and was angry over a separation with her,” Kinning said. “Jerrod went around the counter and began punching and kicking Jennifer.
“Bromley came from the Subway store and attempted to intervene,” he said.
As the alleged assault progressed, Jerrod Rogers pushed Bromley against the counter several times, Kinning added.
“He then picked up a folding step stool and began hitting Jennifer with it while (Bromley) returned to Subway,” Kinning said.
Jerrod Rogers’ father, William Rogers, also attempted to help, as Jennifer Rogers ran into the Subway side of the building.
“Jerrod then broke the glass in the door that separates the two stores, and pursued Jennifer and Elizabeth with the step stool.”
Jerrod Rogers was arrested and booked on charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery, aggravated assault and battery, Kinning said.
No other details were available at press time regarding bail, court appearances.
Rape victim
In the third incident, Kinning said a call was received at 2:30 p.m. May 1 from an outside agency advising they had a rape victim at their facility.
It was reported that the rape occurred at the victim’s residence in Hillsboro on Saturday, April 30.
“The victim was taken for a forensic exam and officer’s collected evidence at the crime scene,” he added.
A Hillsboro man, who is an acquaintance of the victim, was named as a suspect, Kinning said.
The case is still under investigation with officers assisting from the Marion County Sheriff’s office.
