A Crawfordsville man wanted on multiple felony charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident in 2024 has been arrested in Tennessee and returned to Montgomery County.
Jose Ramon Cantillano Martinez, 37, was arrested Wednesday through a coordinated effort involving the FBI Indianapolis, FBI Nashville, the U.S. Marshals Service in the Southern District of Indiana and the U.S. Marshals Service in the Middle District of Tennessee. FBI Indianapolis attributed Martinez’s apprehension to USMS, who located his place of employment and took him into custody.
Martinez was wanted on a warrant issued following a March 30, 2024, domestic disturbance incident in Crawfordsville.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office transported him from the FBI Indianapolis on Wednesday, and he is now being held in the Montgomery County Jail.
He faces felony charges of attempted kidnapping resulting in moderate bodily injury, domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, criminal confinement resulting in bodily injury, two counts of intimidation, battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, strangulation and misdemeanor charges of domestic battery, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Crawfordsville police responded to an apartment on Martin Lane shortly after 1 a.m. March 30, 2024, for a report of a physical domestic disturbance. Officers were told the suspect had fled before they arrived.
Investigators said Martinez had gone to the apartment of his ex-wife and argued with her after she refused to get back together. According to witness statements, Martinez allegedly grabbed the woman and dragged her toward his vehicle in an attempt to force her inside. When she resisted, he allegedly threatened to kill her, punched and choked her and struck her multiple times with a beer bottle until it broke over her head.
One of the witnesses was injured when he intervened to stop the assault, according to the affidavit. One person restrained Martinez while another struck him until he released the woman. Before leaving the scene, Martinez allegedly threatened to kill another witness.
The woman was treated by medics at the scene before being transported to Franciscan Health Crawfordsville with injuries that included abrasions, swelling and redness to her head, face, neck, chest, knees and arm. Another person suffered a wrist injury while intervening but declined transport to the hospital. Officers also recovered a broken beer bottle at the scene.
Police later located the vehicle Martinez was believed to have driven to a nearby residence. After obtaining a search warrant, officers searched the home but did not find him.
FBI Indianapolis Public Affairs representative Chris Bavender said this arrest was just one of the many made as part of the FBI “Summer Heat” initiative. The initiative, which began June 1 and runs through Sept. 20, is a collaborative effort with local law enforcement agencies to apprehend violent fugitives, drug traffickers and other similar criminals.
