On April 27, 2026, at approximately 3:29 A.M., police were dispatched to Holiday Gas Station, [ADDRESS REDACTED], St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, on a report of a male threatening people with a knife and acting erratically. As police approached the scene, they came upon a shirtless male who matched the suspect’s description near the intersection of Lafayette Road and Eighth Street. The male was flailing his hands in the air and pacing on the sidewalk. The male was detained and identified as NOAH CHRISTIAN XZAVIER MARTINEZ – [DOB REDACTED]. A twelve-inch machete was located in MARTINEZ’s clothing on the ground.
Following a Miranda advisory, MARTINEZ told police that he offered some people to smoke weed and asked the male for a lighter. MARTINEZ said the male told him to “f*** off” and to “get the f*** away.” MARTINEZ stated that he put his clothes on, and they saw his machete. MARTINEZ denied threatening, brandishing, or chasing anyone with the machete. Another officer spoke with one of the complainants, DEP, who said that he and JC were sleeping underneath the Highway 52 bridge when MARTINEZ approached and offered to sell him marijuana.
DEP declined and said MARTINEZ walked away then disappeared for a short time. DEP said MARTINEZ reappeared and walked towards them while carrying a machete. DEP reported that MARTINEZ began swinging the machete at him and made comments regarding the “ops”. DEP denied that MARTINEZ made any verbal threats while swinging the machete at him. DEP said he felt like he was in danger when MARTINEZ swung the machete at him. DEP reported that MARTINEZ eventually walked away on Seventh Street. DEP said MARTINEZ was acting erratically and chasing cars.
JC told police that she and her boyfriend, DEP, were sleeping underneath the bridge when MARTINEZ approached and offered to smoke weed with them. JC believed DEP declined, and MARTINEZ left. JC said she fell asleep and was woken up by DEP and MARTINEZ arguing. JC reported that MARTINEZ brandished a knife at DEP and rushed toward him with it. JC said they left the area and went to the gas station to call 911. Following a Miranda advisory, MARTINEZ told the investigator that he was under the influence of marijuana at the time he was arrested and had a machete with him so he could cut firewood as he is homeless.
MARTINEZ denied waving the machete around and said he walked up to a vehicle to offer to smoke weed with them. MARTINEZ said he walked up to people under the bridge and asked them if they wanted some weed. MARTINEZ stated that the male responded that they did not smoke weed, so he walked away. Later, MARTINEZ reported that he walked in the wrong direction past them again and fell down on some rocks and asked them for help. MARTINEZ said they asked if he was okay but did not come to help him. MARTINEZ said he told them to leave him alone and had his machete in his hand at the time.
