Father and son charged with intimidation of IMPD detective following fatal hit-and-run

INDIANAPOLIS -- A father and son are charged with intimidation against IMPD and one of the department's detectives following a tragic hit-and-run on Indy's near east side.




On March 1, while walking along East Washington Street, 43-year-old Emily Martiniz was hit and killed by a driver who refused to stop.

Court records claim the inability of IMPD to make an arrest in that case led the victim's father and brother to post of series of threatening messages online.




A few days after the fatal hit-and-run, IMPD released a picture of a black Audi similar to the car that fled the scene, but while the family said that car was found, the driver has never been caught.

Over the next few weeks, court records claim Emily's father, Martin Thompson Sr., began posting threats on social media about IMPD in general and the detective investigating his daughter's case specifically.




The first post claimed, "You cannot trust any law enforcement" and added he was "going to celebrate every time I hear one is killed or wounded."




In another post the suspect wrote, "I really wish there was a national kill a cop day once a month" and continued the "only good thing I see is target practice so I'll pray that at least one will be killed starting today."




On March 30 the suspect posted, "I see there was 9 shootings Friday night not one cop killed come on you thugs can do better than that hopefully you get one in the face standing next to there (sic) spouse and kids."




That was followed the next day with, "Today my wish is that a wife or the kids of a cop get hit and killed. I used to not wish this one anyone but anybody that's a law enforcement or supporters of are scum and don't deserve to exist."




The suspect's son, Martin Thompson Jr., also allegedly posted threatening comments of his own online, leading to felony intimidation charges against the pair.




"You have a right to speak your mind. You have a right to say I don't like these actions, but you don't have a right to threaten someone's livelihood. You don't have a right to threaten their safety or their family's safety," said Attorney Mario Massillamany.




Massillamany said threats posted on social media are not protected speech, even if no action is ever taken to carry out the violence.








"He does not have to plan out his threats. The fact that he is posting those threats is enough to charge him with intimidation," said Massillamany.




Some members of Emily's friends and family have urged the suspects to stop posting the threats and have repeatedly insisted in recent weeks that their focus is simply getting justice for Emily.




Once they're arrested, both suspects have been ordered to be placed on a $2,000 cash bond pending trial.




The prosecutor's office declined to comment on the charges until after the suspects make their initial hearings.




"Examples are popping up across the country of attacks on officers. Officers are being targeted like what occurred near Cincinnati, Ohio with the tragic murder of an Officer directing traffic," Indy FOP President Rick Snyder said. "Such senseless and evil acts will not be tolerated and must be repudiated by any civil society via their Justice system."



via: https://fox59.com/news/father-and-son-charged-with-intimidation-of-impd-detective-following-fatal-hit-and-run/