José Ángel Martín resigns from all his charges after his arrest for alleged assault on a soccer field

This was reported yesterday the PSOE candidate for mayor of the city in the next municipal electionsPatricia Hernández, who admitted that the behavior of José Ángel Martín “has not been exemplary, beyond the extenuating factors and provocations” that he alleges, and “requires immediate action by the socialist formation”. “We condemn the facts and We must act forcefully”asserted the former mayor, who stated that “Santa Cruz and the project for this city is above people and even acronyms.”

Hernández, who appeared yesterday before the media to report on this fact during the electoral campaign, explained that from the PSOE they have not been able to speak with Martín, but with his lawyer. The candidate herself sent a “clear and forceful message against violence”, and assured that she has contacted the family of the person with whom the altercation occurred, director of the San José El Tablero Soccer Club, who is admitted to the University Hospital of the Canary Islands (HUC) for a fractured tibia, fibula and ankle, and who will have to operate. “We have placed ourselves at his entire disposal,” he said.

Hernández commented that on Wednesday afternoon they went to the El Tablero sports center, which is next to the soccer field, because they had received a complaint from residents of the area, who indicated that said facility had been closed for more than a year even though it had been rehabilitated. When they finished visiting the sports center and recording the state in which he was, and already outside the aforementioned facility, number two on the list of the PSOE candidate in Santa Cruz “He expressed his willingness to go to the bathroom, which is located on the soccer field, since it is shared between both spaces,” he said.

It was at that moment, Hernández added, when “the alleged events” occurred. The former mayor clarified that she was outside the premises and that she found out what happened later. Also, she made it clear that At no time did he run away, as has been stated. The Tenerife women’s soccer team was on the soccer field, performing a program formation, as well as the parents of the girls. According to witnesses, Martín asked to go to the bathroom and there was an altercation with the aforementioned manager. Supposedly, a kick in the door of an office was what caused the injuries to the victim.

«Provocations»

“It is clear that in policy You have to be exemplary, beyond what could have happened. We have not yet been able to read the report, but we do know that his behavior was not exemplary. He has stated that there were provocations, but, in our opinion, that is not enough. For this reason, he has resigned from all his posts and the PSOE has accepted it. We are not judges, but our campaign is exciting and focuses on dialogue, talking to people, and listening to the positive comments, which are many, and also the negative ones, which are fewer, with the same face and the same smile with which we first heard».

For the former mayor, this is a “very complicated” situation in which firm action must be taken. He added that the PSOE in Santa Cruz will continue to develop its campaign to transmit the “illusion and the need for an ambitious and new project that revitalizes the capital.” «And, precisely, this project is above any person and acronyms. This municipality has a lot at stake in these elections and hence the forcefulness with which we have acted. We cannot send a message that we are soft on this. They do not fit hot cloths. The facts are what they are and the consequences are what they are. Adults have to take charge of things that happen, “he asserted.

With the resignation of José Ángel Martín, the current mayor Elena Mateo goes on to occupy number two on the electoral list, which was also at the scene. “New ballots cannot be printed, but his election will not be effective with the resignation that is already signed,” explained Patricia Hernández.

The former socialist councilor passed Wednesday night at police stations. Yesterday, Thursday, at noon, the Duty Court reported that, after taking a statement from Martín, the investigating magistrate agreed to release him on provisional release without any precautionary measure as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of less serious injuries. The matter has been initiated as preliminary proceedings, that is, as an investigation prior to the possible opening of a criminal case, which means that, for the moment, a possible speedy trial is ruled out.

The magistrate who in principle was the natural judge to hear the case, Carolina Déniz, was inhibited in hearing the process due to her past activity in the life of politics, assuming the proceedings her investigative partner.