Deland man charged with breaking into Sweetwater Square apartment, holding occupant hostage

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Freddie Lee Martin III, 31, was arrested this morning after allegedly entering an apartment through a door he had previously damaged and refusing to let the occupant leave. He later allegedly caused $2,000 damage to a patrol car after being arrested.

Early this morning, Martin showed up at the victim’s front door in Sweetwater Square Apartments (3101 NE 15th St.) and asked her to let him in. The victim reportedly knew him only by his nickname (“Red”) and did not open the door. Martin allegedly kicked the door three times, damaging it to the point where it could not be opened; the damage is estimated at $1,500. The victim was reportedly unable to leave her apartment, and officers were unable to locate Martin.

An officer helped the victim get her door open, and about an hour later, Martin allegedly returned and forced the victim’s door open. Martin allegedly told the occupant that if she left, “everybody dies in here.” He allegedly placed a chair under the interior door handle to keep it closed.

Martin allegedly said that if the victim called the police, “I got something for you… They’re going to have to take me down and get me out of here.”

The victim called the police, and officers who were still in the area responded; the victim opened the door and pointed to Martin, who was sitting on the sofa. Officers detained Martin in handcuffs after backup arrived.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced 6.3 grams of marijuana.

Post Miranda, Martin reportedly said he did not kick the victim’s door. An officer removed one of Martin’s shoes and reported that the sole matched a footprint on the door. After Martin was informed that he was being arrested for property damage, he allegedly became “extremely violent,” kicking the rear door of the patrol vehicle from the inside and causing an estimated $2,000 in damage. Martin reportedly said, “You will have to kill me.”

According to court documents, Martin’s home address is in Deland, and he has been in Alachua County for about three weeks; he is unemployed. He has seven felony convictions (one violent) and 16 misdemeanor convictions (seven violent). He has served two state prison sentences, both out of Volusia County, with his most recent release in July 2023. He is a designated Career Offender. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $41,000 on the drug and property damage charges and ordered him held without bail for burglary and false imprisonment, pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.