Two arrested following Dale firearm incident

Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department

On Dec. 31, 2023, at about 1:29 p.m., Caldwell County Patrol Deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call of a gold in color Chevrolet pickup discharging a firearm from the roadway near the 4600 block of Barth Road in Dale. Patrol Deputies located the gold Chevrolet pickup near the intersection of Farm to Market 1185 and Barth Road and attempted a high-risk vehicle stop. The vehicle fled marked Caldwell County Patrol Units, which resulted in a vehicle pursuit until it stopped at the residence of 201 Morning Mist in Dale.

Patrol Deputies arrested the driver, Dennis Martinez, 20, and the passenger, Bryan Jared Martinez-Ponce, 18, was eventually arrested, after fleeing into the residence.

Members of the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Investigation Division, were notified, and a search warrant was obtained for the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, multiple firearms were located inside. Of the firearms located, two were reported stolen out of Austin, Texas, one of which was stolen during a burglary of a firearms dealer. Additionally, Detectives seized a large amount of firearm, related accessories/components, and

narcotics. Both subjects were charged with Deadly Conduct and Evading Arrest.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 5, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office Detectives assisted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, and Firearms (ATF) Agents and Austin Police Department Detectives with a subsequent search warrant for the residence. During the execution, numerous electronic devices were seized in connection with burglaries in the Austin area. Due to the subsequent search warrant, Dennis Martinez and Bryan Martinez received additional state and future federal charges.

As of this press release, both Dennis and Bryan are incarcerated at the Caldwell County jail.