An arrest has been made by Colorado Springs police in a double kidnapping and assault that occurred last month.

The arrest affidavit of the new suspect revealed an apparent motive for the crime: that the victims had snitched on her boyfriend.

Melissa Martinez, 33, was arrested on June 23 for her alleged involvement in the double kidnapping and assault that happened on June 7. She is being held in El Paso County jail and is facing charges for two counts of second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault and aggravated robbery.

Two other people involved in the alleged kidnapping and assault, Linda Guest, 35, and Joseary Arizmendi, 24, were arrested on June 10 and are facing similar charges.

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According to the arrest affidavit, Guest and the victims, a male and female couple in their 20s, told police that the motive for the kidnapping was because the two reported Martinez’s boyfriend, Shemore Mitchell, to the police.

Mitchell has been identified by The Gazette as a suspect involved in the alleged attempted murder of a 22-year-old man at the “PopCycle” Bridge on Jan. 22.

Mitchell and three others were arrested after a man who had been beaten, cut with a box cutter blade, hit with a metal pipe, and set on fire identified the four as the perpetrators.

In Mitchell’s arrest affidavit, the female victim said the man who was almost killed had been assaulted by two of the perpetrators at her apartment before being taken to the bridge.

On Jan. 29, CSPD received an anonymous tip stating that “they” are planning on taking the female victim “out,” according to the affidavit.

On June 7, the day after Mitchell was arrested, the three suspects allegedly kidnapped and then assaulted the two victims, who were staying at their friend’s residence in the apartment complex along 2503 Hancock Expressway in Colorado Springs, arrest affidavits state.  

The reporting party were interviewed by police at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central. The male victim managed to escape after being held for over a day, and police found the female victim at the apartment unit they were taken from.

Both victims had multiple bruises on their bodies and bumps on their heads, and the male victim had a fractured eye socket.  

The victims said the three suspects, who were wearing black hoods and possessed two guns, barged into their apartment and said “snitches get stitches.” 

After escorting them out of their apartment at gunpoint, records state the victims told police that the three separated them into different rooms and took turns beating them in the head with their firearms and fists.

The male victim told police a glass beer bottle was broken over his head, and he was beaten multiple times in the head with a baseball bat.

After being given permission by Guest to enter the apartment unit where the victims were held captive, police found the wallets, the cellphones and articles of clothing of both victims.

Based on the evidence discovered and victim and witness interviews, investigators developed probable cause to arrest Guest, Arizmendi and Martinez. 

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Martinez’s other allegations

According to another arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette, Martinez is also being charged with third-degree assault and menacing after a dispute involving a 27-year-old female and her boyfriend, which happened on March 5.

The woman told police that Martinez and Mitchell held her boyfriend at gunpoint while questioning him in the bathroom of her apartment.  

After exiting the bathroom, the woman stated Martinez held the gun to her head while calling her derogatory names and then used the butt of the gun to hit her twice on the left side of the head, causing her to lose consciousness.

While on the ground, the victim told police that Martinez stomped on her face and left side, which resulted in a black eye and a possible broken rib.

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Martinez is set for her first appearance at the 4th Judicial District Courthouse on Thursday at 3 p.m.