San Benito Police Lt. Milton Resendez was fatally shot in October 2023 during a pursuit that began on South Padre Island. A jury has been selected in the capital murder trial of Rogelio Martinez Jr., who is accused in Resendez’s death. (Courtesy photo/San Benito Police Department
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.
A jury has been selected in the capital murder trial of a Brownsville man accused in the 2023 shooting death of San Benito Police Lt. Milton Resendez following a pursuit that began on South Padre Island.\
Twelve jurors and three alternates have been selected for the trial of Rogelio Martinez Jr., with testimony scheduled to begin Oct. 5 in Cameron County. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Martinez has pleaded not guilty.
The case stems from an Oct. 17, 2023, incident that began when a Cameron County park officer stopped a pickup for allegedly speeding on the beach at South Padre Island. Authorities say the vehicle fled, leading officers through Port Isabel and into Brownsville.
Several hours later, authorities located the suspects in another vehicle and a second pursuit began, eventually reaching San Benito.
Resendez joined the pursuit and was struck by gunfire that entered the driver’s side of his patrol vehicle. He was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Martinez faces capital murder of a peace officer along with six counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer and two counts of evading arrest. He was 18 at the time of the shooting.
Co-defendant Rodrigo Axel Espinosa Valdez previously pleaded guilty to a reduced murder charge and is expected to testify when Martinez’s trial begins.
Resendez was 54 and had spent decades in law enforcement. He was the first San Benito police officer killed in the line of duty.