A drunk man has an argument with his girlfriend, so he sets fire to her house and flees from officers in his car. 

On August 25, 2018,  around 5:00 PM, Cape Coral Fire Department and Cape Coral Police Department responded to the 1100 block of SE 31st Street in reference to a structure fire with no one inside. Upon arrival of responding units, the house was fully engulfed, but Cape Coral Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. 

A Cape Coral Police Property Crimes Unit detective, Forensics Specialist, and the State Fire Marshal arrived on scene to investigate. It was determined that the fire was intentionally set by Michael Conrad Martinez (W/M, DOB: 05/31/1973) who had recently gotten into an argument with his live-in girlfriend; the house he set on fire. Martinez fled the area in a Chevrolet Trailblazer owned by his girlfriend. 

On August 25, 2018, around 10:40 PM, a Cape Coral Police Officer was conducting selective traffic enforcement at the 2600 block of Del Prado Blvd S when he saw the Chevrolet Trailblazer make a U-turn, violating the right-of-way of another vehicle. The Officer turned on his emergency lights and siren to stop the Chevrolet, but it instead sped up and turned onto Veterans Pkwy E traveling east toward Ft. Myers. The Officer did not pursue but was able to identify the driver.

On August 25, 2018, around 11:00 PM, another Cape Coral Police Officer saw the Chevrolet Trailblazer traveling west on Veterans Pkwy passing Country Club Blvd. The Chevrolet was swerving, failing to maintain a single lane, and failing to signal when changing lanes. The officer was able to read the tag which was the same as the vehicle that had recently fled from the other Cape Coral Police Officer. The Officer turned on his emergency lights and siren and Martinez drove into a business parking lot where he was unable to get out.

Officers were able to take Martinez into custody without incident. A DUI investigation was conducted in which Martinez showed several signs that he was impaired. He submitted to a breath test and the results were .208 and .201 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. A records check also revealed that Martinez did not have a valid driver’s license.

The Cape Coral Police arrested and charged Martinez with DUI while having a BAC .15 or higher, Operating Motor Vehicle without a Valid Driver’s License, and Flee and Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer. He was additionally charged by the State Fire Investigator with 1st Degree Arson. Martinez was transferred to the Lee County Jail.

###