Transient steals baseball bats, batting gloves from Walmart before punching officer, spitting on deputy in hospital

A homeless man was arrested on a slew of charges after he forcibly stole baseball gear and later punched a police officer and spat on a deputy while in custody in the hospital.

According to a press release issued by the Ventura Police Department, employees of the Walmart, located at 1739 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura, called 911 to report a shoplift just before 9:30 p.m. Friday.

The suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Adam Martinez, had stolen two baseball bats and a pair of batting gloves from the store “by means of force,” police stated.

“Officers arrived and quickly located Martinez, who was waving the baseball bats in the air near bystanders outside of a nearby restaurant,” the Ventura Police Department said.  “Martinez fled from the officers on foot…[they] caught up to him a short distance later, where he brandished the baseball bats at the officers in a threatening manner.”

At that point, the officers deployed a “less lethal force option” and took Martinez into custody without further incident.

He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, and while there, he punched a Ventura Police Department officer and spat on a Ventura County Sheriff’s Office deputy, authorities said.

After receiving treatment, Martinez was booked at the Ventura County Jail on charges of robbery, violently resisting an officer, battery on a peace officer and a parole hold.

According to police, he is currently on parole for multiple violent crimes and has multiple recent arrests in Ventura County. Inmate search records indicate his prior arrests were on Aug. 17, 23, 29 and 31.

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