Martin County Sheriff's Office

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Martin County Sheriff's Office Official Facebook account of the Martin County Sheriff's Office. If you are having an emergency dial 911. This account is not monitored 24/7.

Non-Emergencies call 772-220-7170. Facebook is monitored periodically but is not the proper forum for reporting emergencies. General Information
An important goal of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office is to support lines of communication with members of the public, and to do so with a level of transparency that encourages citizen interaction. The use of social media enhances our ability to do this

, particularly through social networking sites like Facebook, X, Instagram and others. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office offers social media platforms as a public service, awareness and crime prevention tool to the community. These accounts are not monitored in real-time. To report a crime, speak with a deputy, or for any other issue that requires law enforcement assistance, please dial 911. Postings made by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office to our Facebook and other social media pages are done so with the intention of providing the public with information we believe is important or newsworthy, and in certain cases is necessary to release in the interest of public safety. Therefore, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to limit posts from members of the public to those which directly relate to our postings, and which conform to our guidelines. It is not the intent of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office to provide a venue or forum for the expression and/or postings of unlimited comments, videos, or links simply for the convenience of the public. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office makes reasonable efforts to check all posts for accuracy, veracity and completeness when posted; however we make no guarantees or warrant posting reliability. Postings are made in “good faith,” though circumstances may arise that cause details to change over time, with new information being developed. Should information from a posting change, become stale, or be deemed inaccurate, we will make reasonable efforts to update it as soon as practicable, upon such discovery. Under no circumstances will information be posted that compromises the safety of the public, Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies, or members of other law enforcement agencies. In an effort to encourage law enforcement/citizen interaction and co-operation, we welcome the posting of relevant comments to our social media pages. However, comments made by users do not necessarily reflect the views of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office or its members, and shouldn't be deemed as an endorsement by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office or its members, nor should they be considered as being accurate or verified. This also applies to any advertisements or third-party links that may appear on our social media pages. All content on Martin County Sheriff’s Office social media pages, to include user comments, is considered property of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and is subject to disclosure under the Florida’s Public Records Act. Comments posted on Martin County Sheriff’s Office social media pages are not considered private and are available for viewing by anyone accessing said pages. We urge you to protect your privacy and not list any personal or sensitive information about yourself when commenting on a post. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office does not and cannot guarantee your privacy when using social media sites such as Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Truth Social. Users should familiarize themselves with, and abide by, the terms and conditions set forth by Facebook and X and all other formats when using those applications. At times, we may choose to reply to user comments to answer a question or to offer an update on a posting. Unfortunately we cannot reply to every comment, due to time constraints and other issues. Though we welcome your comments, there are certain guidelines we require when posting. Comments must not contain any of the following things:

1) Obscene, vulgar, s*xually explicit or otherwise offensive language/content, or links to such material;
2) Threats or bullying of any kind, particularly toward any other user or the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and its members;
3) The advocating of criminal acts or other illegal behavior;
4) Material that has the potential to compromise public safety or the safety of law enforcement personnel;
5) Remarks that disparage or discriminate against anyone based upon their s*x, race, creed, religious views, national origin, s*xual orientation, disability, etc.;
6) Remarks that may be considered libel, made toward any person or organization;
7) Anything that is clearly off the intended topic of discussion;
8) Information that is clearly inaccurate, unverified, and purposefully designed to mislead others;
9) Campaigning of any type, political or otherwise;
10) Links to other third-party sites or advertisements;
11) Any form of solicitation; and
12) Any other language/material deemed inappropriate or offensive. Any comments that violate these guidelines may be removed by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office at its sole discretion, and without prior warning or notice, but will be retained for the applicable retention period. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office also reserves the right to block access to our social media pages to any user who consistently violates these guidelines, without prior warning or notice. We understand that some topics may bring about strong feelings from users, but we ask that you please exercise good judgment, common courtesy and reasonableness when posting your comments. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to make changes to these guidelines without notice, and when it becomes necessary to do so. Changes made to these guidelines will take effect the moment they're updated on the official Martin County Sheriff’s Office website and viewable to the public. Please check these guidelines periodically for possible revisions.

Sheriff John Budensiek and members of the Martin County Sheriff’s proudly participated in the 15th Annual Aaron Vaughn F...
20/06/2026

Sheriff John Budensiek and members of the Martin County Sheriff’s proudly participated in the 15th Annual Aaron Vaughn Frogman Swim and Run this morning at Jensen Public Beach.

This open water swim and run honors the sacrifice of SOC Aaron C Vaughn (SEAL) who was KIA in August of 2011 while serving our country in Afghanistan.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in both the run and swim!

LARGE ELECTRIC CAR TRANSPORT CARRIER FIRE SHUTS DOWN TURNPIKE AND PARTS OF I-95A vehicle carrier transporting six electr...
20/06/2026

LARGE ELECTRIC CAR TRANSPORT CARRIER FIRE SHUTS DOWN TURNPIKE AND PARTS OF I-95

A vehicle carrier transporting six electric cars erupted into flames late last night along the Florida Turnpike near mile marker 120, creating a massive fire that forced the closure of both northbound and southbound lanes of the Turnpike and temporarily shut down parts of Interstate 95.

When deputies arrived on scene, the trailer was fully engulfed. The driver had already disconnected the truck from the burning trailer. Due to the intensity of the fire, heavy smoke, and concerns regarding potential hazardous materials, traffic in the area was brought to a standstill for an extended period while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

As of this morning, the roadway has been reopened, and traffic is flowing freely on both the Florida Turnpike and I-95.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A thoughtful gift with a powerful message.Today, local resident and federal agent Nick Menster stopped by the Martin Cou...
18/06/2026

A thoughtful gift with a powerful message.

Today, local resident and federal agent Nick Menster stopped by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office to present Sheriff John M. Budensiek with a framed copy of the Protector’s Prayer, a work he authored to honor those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.

One line in particular speaks to the heart of public service:“Give me the courage of David, strength of Samson, wisdom of Solomon, and the grace of Your Son, Jesus.”

The prayer is a reflection of the courage, faith, sacrifice, and sense of duty carried by law enforcement officers every day. We are grateful to Nick for sharing his work and for this meaningful gift, which will serve as a reminder of the calling to serve and protect.

SERIOUS ABOUT SUPER SPEEDERSIn case you’re wondering how serious we are about stopping motorists who violate our speed l...
17/06/2026

SERIOUS ABOUT SUPER SPEEDERS

In case you’re wondering how serious we are about stopping motorists who violate our speed laws and put others at risk, let these recent arrests serve as a reminder. Just this month, we have had three Super Speeders stopped and arrested for outrageous speeds on roadways that have become known for having horrific crashes.

Michele Albertson of Fort Myers was driving 115 mph along a stretch of SW Warfield Boulevard where the speed limit is 40 mph.

Adriana Sugeidy De Leon Dionicio of Lake Worth was clocked traveling 114 mph in a 60 mph zone, also along SW Warfield Boulevard.

Jillian Nicole Lee of Port St. Lucie was clocked by FHP on her motorcycle traveling 140 mph in a 70 mph zone on I-95. Lee was also charged with not having a motorcycle endorsement.

In Florida, a Super Speeder is someone driving 100 mph or faster, or 50 mph or more over the posted speed limit. The penalties are steep and can include jail time. If you’re traveling through Martin County, we recommend you slow down, because we are super serious about catching Super Speeders.

WARNING: Graphic Animal Cruelty Photos MAN CHARGED IN HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE AFTER DOG FOUND LOCKED IN CAGE, STARV...
16/06/2026

WARNING: Graphic Animal Cruelty Photos

MAN CHARGED IN HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE AFTER DOG FOUND LOCKED IN CAGE, STARVED TO DEATH; SIX SURVIVING ANIMALS RESCUED

The “see something, say something” effect may have saved six animals from a grueling and painful future after someone contacted a media outlet with concerns about animal cruelty. That media outlet, WPEC TV-12, then contacted the Martin County Sheriff’s Office with the troubling information.

Criminal Investigations Detective Christine Polizzi opened an investigation at a ranch in the 16000 block of Connors Highway in Canal Point. She immediately dispatched our Ranch and Grove detectives and Animal Services officers to the property.

What they found was disturbing.

A deceased dog was locked inside a cage, showing clear signs that it had starved to death. Not far away, a second dog was found under a trailer, severely emaciated, unable to lift its head, and near death. Detectives also found a female dog, her three puppies, and a cat, all showing signs of neglect and living in terrible conditions.

Investigators determined the animals belonged to 34-year-old Jose Arreaga. Arreaga, who resides in Okeechobee, told detectives he kept his dogs on the ranch and claimed that when he could not care for them, he relied on someone else to do so. But no one did.

The six surviving animals — a male dog in critical condition, a female dog, her three puppies, and a cat — were seized and transported to the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast for treatment and care. They will eventually be available for adoption.

Arreaga was arrested and charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty. He was transported to the Martin County Jail.

Thank you to the anonymous tipster who contacted the media. Thank you to the media outlet that contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Sadly, one dog succumbed to this cruel neglect, but six other animals were saved because someone saw something and said something.

FATAL AUTO FIRE Saturday, just after 9 p.m., Martin County Sheriff’s deputies and Martin County Fire Rescue responded to...
15/06/2026

FATAL AUTO FIRE

Saturday, just after 9 p.m., Martin County Sheriff’s deputies and Martin County Fire Rescue responded to a fully engulfed vehicle fire off the side of the road near Citrus Boulevard and Pineapple Court.

When first responders arrived, the driver was deceased and burned beyond recognition. It was initially believed the fire was the result of a traffic crash. However, after further investigation, that possibility was ruled out, and Criminal Investigations Division detectives were called to the scene.

The investigation revealed that the fire may have been caused by the truck’s exhaust igniting grass beneath the vehicle. For reasons that remain unknown, the driver was unable to escape the truck.

Detectives believe they have identified the victim and have been in communication with his family; however, due to the condition of the decedent’s body, a positive identification cannot be confirmed until DNA testing is completed. Those results could take several weeks.

14/06/2026

The Martin County Sheriffs Office aviation unit is assisting Martin County Fire Rescue with a large Brush fire in Palm City off of Citrus Boulevard and Prairie Avenue near the Newfield community.

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO BOOM! ANSWERS TO YOUR MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YESTERDAY’S FOOT CHASE VIDEO We wind down the week wi...
12/06/2026

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO BOOM! ANSWERS TO YOUR MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YESTERDAY’S FOOT CHASE VIDEO

We wind down the week with answers to your many questions about the deputy involved in Wednesday’s foot chase with the man who was swinging a stick and threatening passersby.

This is Deputy Sheriff Kaleb Prejean, a recent graduate of the Avon Park Law Enforcement Academy, and one of 16 new MCSO deputies.

Deputy Prejean is still in the Field Training phase of his career at MCSO.

Yes, he played football.

Yes, he is fast.

No, he wasn’t breathing hard after the foot chase.

No, he didn’t break a sweat.

No, the Miami Dolphins can’t have him. He belongs to us.

Some friendly advice: The next time you want to run, think twice. He could be on-shift. If not, he’s got teammates. Lots of very fast teammates.

11/06/2026

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: SWINGING STICK SUSPECT GETS A QUICK LESSON IN REGRET

Just another day for our Road Patrol Deputies.

Deputies responded to reports of 25-year-old Augustin Esquivar Saah swinging a stick and threatening people as they passed by.

After deputies moved in to arrest him for disorderly conduct, Saah reportedly issued a challenge:

“Somebody try to get me.”

Challenge accepted.

Then came this.

Address


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