Florida man allegedly tried to smother his mom with pillow before stabbing deputy in head

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- A 47-year-old man was fatally shot by deputies after allegedly stabbing a deputy in the head over the weekend.

According to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, on Sunday, Jan. 23, at approximately 2:45 p.m., deputies responded to a 911 call from an elderly woman who told authorities that her son, Arthur Martin, tried to kill her.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the woman said she was "napping on the living room couch when she was awakened by Martin trying to smother her by holding a pillow on her face." The victim was reportedly able to escape, run outside, and call for help. The Sheriff’s Office says the son’s motive is unknown.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived and called for Martin to come out of the master bathroom on the second floor with no response, and the deputies eventually forced the door open. The Sheriff’s Office says Martin charged toward the three deputies with a large knife and stabbed Deputy Sheriff Aurelio Nicolas in the face and on the top of his head. Nicolas reportedly tried to tase Martin, but it was ineffective. All three deputies were reportedly forced to shoot Martin to death.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Nicolas was treated with stitches for the laceration on his head. His face is reportedly bruised from when Martin hit him on the face. The two other deputies involved in the incident are Deputy Sheriff Odalys Hurtado and Deputy Sheriff Kyle Pitts, the Sheriff’s Office says.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Martin has a criminal past, including a 2015 DUI in New York for which he was convicted. In 2014, Martin was reportedly convicted for armed assault with intent to cause serious injury, and in 2016, he was sentenced to four years in state prison and was released on parole in January 2019.

As a registered felon in Polk County, Martin’s parole was scheduled to expire in January 2024, the Sheriff’s Office says. Martin was also reportedly prohibited from contacting an adult female and two children due to an active injunction for protection in New York.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement, "Here is one more example of how dangerous this job is. When deputies respond to family disturbances, they do everything they can to resolve the situation. My deputies did not choose to shoot this violent, convicted felon — he forced them to when he charged them with a knife and began attacking."

Martin’s death will be investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit, Administrative Investigation, the State Attorney’s Office, and the 10th District Medical Examiner.

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