Two Marshfield police officers are recovering after responding to a wellbeing check that turned violent, with one suffering “severe bleeding” when the woman they were providing care for allegedly wacked him with a statue over his head.
Gina Martell, 42, is accused of smashing an 8-inch long ceramic statue over an officer’s head causing what authorities described as a “deep laceration and severe bleeding” when Marshfield Police responded to call for a wellbeing check on the local woman the night of Feb. 19.
A trio of officers at the apartment Martell had been staying at on Ocean Street “wrestled the weapon from her,” with two “injured during the fray,” before the 300-pound woman was subdued and handcuffed, police rehashed in a Wednesday release.
Martell is accused of elbowing and kicking officers on scene.
The woman has an “extensive history, including multiple violent encounters with the Marshfield Police. She is also known to conceal weapons within her clothes and body,” police said.
“Two Marshfield Police Officers were injured during this call requiring they be transported by ambulance to a local hospital, yet they still ensured that the suspect was safely transported to the hospital to receive treatment,” the release states. The suspect suffered no physical injuries during the encounter.”
“Both Marshfield Officers will fortunately make a full recovery,” the department continued. “This easily could have been a catastrophic ending resulting in much more severe injuries or even death to the officers involved. They acted with extreme professionalism and restraint during the entire encounter.
Police responded to 875 Ocean Street Apartment #5 around 7:45 p.m. to perform a wellbeing check on Martell, and officers responded with an on-duty mental health clinician. Marshfield firefighters staged nearby.
When officers knocked on Martell’s door the woman screamed at them to get a warrant before screaming again and exhibiting “delusional and paranoid behavior,” authorities allege. The clinician moments later determined Martell to be a danger and filed paperwork for the woman to be taken to the hospital for treatment, they said.
After gaining access to the apartment, officers told Martell that she had to be taken to the hospital to speak with a mental health professional. But that did not sit well with the woman, according to the release.
“Martell ignored the officers and became argumentative and aggressive,” the release states. “As officers attempted to de-escalate the situation Martell picked up an 8 inch- long ceramic statue and began towards officers in a threatening manner. At this time one of the officers on scene took his taser out and ordered her to drop the weapon. Martel rushed towards the officer who deployed his taser on her. The taser had minimal (effect) and Martell smashed the statue over the officer’s head breaking it over his head.”
Martell is charged with assault with intent to murder or maim, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, disturbing the peace, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, and mayhem.