David Martinez, a candidate for St. Paul City Council Ward 4 who was recently ejected from the St. Paul Public Library and a Twins game for violent behavior, appears to have posted a topless photo of his wife on his campaign website along with a restraining order he says she sought against him.
“I’m aware,” said his wife, Meredeth Martinez. “I’m working with my attorney. I’m not going to comment on anything else.”
The restraining order stems from an altercation that took place July 4 at the couple’s home on Hewitt Avenue in St. Paul, according to documents Martinez posted on his website.
David Martinez responded by posting a semi-nude picture of his wife at the top of a blog post reporting that he had been visited by the Ramsey County sheriff’s office and calling the situation “crazy.”
“Meredith fabricated/made-up most of the testimony contained within the restraining order. I am shocked and amazed that someone can make up a story just so they can kick someone out of their own home……and take the kids away,” he wrote.
His post is being investigated by the police.
“We did receive a report about the posting by David Martinez and it is being investigated by a member of our Family and Sexual Violence unit,” said St. Paul police spokesman Steve Linders.
According to the documents on his website, Meredith Martinez said her husband had arrived home about 9:30 p.m. July 4. He was upset at something she had said to their daughter and followed her down to the laundry room where they began arguing.
“He then put both of his hands around my neck and pushed me backwards into a shelving unit with his hands still gripped around my neck,” Meredith wrote in the restraining order request.
She said she wanted to leave but did not want to go without their children. The argument escalated. He refused to let her go upstairs where the children were and eventually told her to get out of the house, she said.
When outside, she called the police who helped her get the children so she could stay at a family member’s house, according to the document.
The next morning, July 5, she contacted attorney Michele Schorbahn and started the process for obtaining a restraining order, which was filed Friday, July 13, with the Ramsey County District Court.
On July 5, David Martinez was banned from the city’s public library system for a month following his arrest at the downtown George Latimer Central Library.
The next day, July 6, he was ejected from Target Field and banned from the ballpark for a year following a physical confrontation with security.
Meredith added that on July 11, he brought home several canisters of mace and a pellet gun, telling her that people were threatening him.
The couple work on the same floor of the Minnesota Department of Health building. He is ordered to stay away from her at work, according to the document.
David Martinez said he would be renting a small apartment in Ward 4 where he will continue to work on the city council campaign.
Martinez did not immediately respond to a voicemail seeking comment on the post.
“My attorney has advised me not to say anything further,” he said on his website. “I wanted you to hear this from me. A few weeks ago, my wife said to me, ‘I am going to jeopardize/compromise your chances of winning the Ward 4 City Council seat!’ Well, good job honey. Love you too!”