hatham County (February 19, 2023) – Pooler police responding to a domestic violence call found a father in the shower bleeding from the head after his wife allegedly hit him over the head with a lamp during a drunken fight. A child in the home told police her mother was locked outside, and she was afraid.
Reports say, Berthmarie Martinez, 42, was upset after another couple had to drive Martinez and her husband home from a night out, sparking an argument. During the fight, she allegedly grabbed the lamp and smashed it over her husband’s head, causing a six-inch-long wound split in three directions. The couple’s son took the lampshade from his mother after hearing the sound of breaking glass.
When police arrived, the victim was in the shower, and Martinez was locked on the back porch, heavily intoxicated, and sitting in a dog bed. A large amount of blood was on the floor, and police found a shattered mug and a broken lamp. When asked about the injury, the victim told police his wife hit him with the light.
Martinez was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, child cruelty, and criminal trespass. She was booked into the Chatham County Detention Center.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On 2/19/23 I was dispatched to a domestic with possible injuries at [200 BLOCK] Longleaf Circle.
As I arrived on the scene, Juvenile One opened the door and stated that mom was outside on the back porch locked out. Juvenile One advised she was in fear of her mother. Walking through the house I saw large blood spatter on the floor. I unlocked the back door and saw Ms. Martinez, Berthmarie sitting on the ground on what appeared to be a dog bed, no visible injuries were seen. I asked where Mr. [VICTIM #1] was and what had happened. Ms. Martinez was highly intoxicated and slow to speak. Seeing no injuries I asked where the father was to Juvenile One. She stated the shower and pointed towards the direction of the bathroom.
I knocked on the bathroom door and announced myself. Mr. [VICTIM #1] answered and acknowledged my presence. I saw a blood-soaked shirt sitting on the bathroom sink. I asked if Mr. [VICTIM #1] was at all injured, and he stated “yes my head.” I asked to see his injuries. At first glance of the injury, it was a large deep laceration, needing stitches. It was split evenly in three ways about 6 inches in length on the topmost back of the head. I gave Mr. [VICTIM #1] some time to exit the shower and become decent.
When speaking to the son, Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated that he heard the argument was verbal but when he heard things started to break he came out and saw his sister in the living room, where the incident occurred. He stated he had to grab the lampshade out of his mother’s hands, but did not see any physical altercation.
When Mr. [VICTIM #1] became decent, I asked him what had happened. He stated that they were out drinking with the neighbors and that the neighbors had to bring them home. He stated that Ms. Martinez was extremely embarrassed by the situation and was arguing about a lot of marriage problems. I asked him how he obtained the laceration on the head and he stated that “my wife hit me with the light” which was the lamp. See APO Parrish Supplemental for the Juvenile’s statement.
Two items were on the ground broken that I could tell were out of place. There was a coffee mug that was shattered on the carpet in the living room and the lamp that was used as a weapon was destroyed. Pictures of the damage, injuries, and all other evidence were taken and included in the report.
Due to the evidence given and statements made it was deemed that Ms. Martinez was the primary aggressor in the incident. Ms. Martinez was cuffed, searched by Officer Reinhardt, and placed in the back of my patrol vehicle. Ms. Martinez was advised of her charges, Aggravated Assault DVA, Cruelty to Children in the 3rd degree, and criminal trespass.
Ms. Martinez refused to acknowledge her Preliminary Waiver and First Appearance Waiver bond could not be offered at this time and to be determined. Cpl. Drane was on the scene and was notified. CID was informed by Cpl. Drane. Ms. Martinez was transported to the CCDC without incident.
Both Mr. and Ms. Martinez were offered EMS. Ms. Martinez refused treatment. Mr. [VICTIM #1] was transported by EMS 46 to Memorial to receive medical care.
Mr. [WITNESS #1], and the Juvenile were given a subpoena.
[End of Narrative]
