Shock permeates the society of Tenerife due to the public profile of the individual involved. Yesterday at noon, National Police officers detained the chief of Civil Protection in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santiago Carlos Martín, who had also been serving as the island’s spokesperson for the prominent NGO SOS Desaparecidos.
The apprehension was executed by officials from the Unit against Immigration Networks and Document Forgery of the Immigration Brigade in Santa Cruz de Tenerife around midday yesterday. Shortly after, a representative from the Provincial Police Station confirmed to this publication that they could not divulge the specifics behind the arrest, as the relevant judicial authority had imposed confidentiality on the summary of the proceedings.
Nonetheless, unofficial information obtained from sources acquainted with the matter suggests that the investigation may originate from a complaint lodged with the court by the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, which specialises in tackling human trafficking and associated immigration-related crimes.
It is important to note that Santiago Carlos Martín’s history does not appear particularly suitable for someone in charge of Civil Protection, a role that current regulations stipulate requires exemplary conduct.
Since his appointment in 2017 as head of Civil Protection in the Tenerife capital, his record has included sensitive issues, such as a complaint from four minors alleging inappropriate behaviour. This issue was flagged internally within the council after the arrival of Patricia Hernández (PSOE) in the Mayor’s Office in 2019. The case was referred to the Prosecutor’s Office, and it is noteworthy that it was eventually provisionally dismissed by the court due to insufficient evidence, with three of the four minors retracting their statements.
OTHER PRECEDENTS
The attached image shows that in 2023, he was also involved in a significant incident recorded in a report by the local police. They were left astonished after discovering a 10-year-old girl in the driver’s seat of a Civil Protection vehicle with the engine running, parked adjacent to the hospital during an emergency triggered by a fire at Febles Campos Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The girl was accompanied by an adult male, seemingly a migrant and her father, while Santiago Carlos was inside the hospital. This occurred during a crisis where firefighters even warned of the potential risk of explosions affecting the minor.
Moreover, since the beginning of this year, instances of foreigners, presumably irregular migrants, serving as Civil Protection volunteers in Santa Cruz de Tenerife have been reported, as apparently confirmed during recent Carnivals.
Yesterday, the city council opted not to issue any statement regarding the arrest until further information became available, and it was challenging to contact the person involved. This was undoubtedly understandable, given that there was no confirmation about his release.
Hernández (PSOE) removed him from position upon taking office
Shortly after taking office at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council following the municipal elections in 2019, socialist Patricia Hernández dismissed Santiago Carlos Martín from his role as head of Civil Protection. This action was purportedly taken due to a lack of trust, driven by an internal report which revealed that four minors had accused him of inappropriate conduct, a matter that the City Council subsequently referred to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Although the Public Ministry acknowledged the complaint, the court ultimately ordered the provisional dismissal of the case after three of the minors retracted their testimonies. Following a successful motion of censure that restored the governing coalition consisting of CC, PP, and a councillor from Cs, Santiago Carlos Martín was reinstated as head of Civil Protection, which was then under the remit of the area’s councillor, Evelyn Alonso (Cs).
