A Coast Guard veteran faced an unexpected and distressing arrest on his birthday while aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Jose Martinez, from Arizona, was taken into custody by US authorities in his cabin during the final morning of an eight-day Caribbean sailing. The incident, which his wife filmed, was later attributed to a case of mistaken identity.
Key Takeaways
- Jose Martinez was arrested by US authorities on a Carnival cruise.
- The arrest occurred on the last morning of an eight-day Caribbean sailing.
- Authorities later confirmed it was a case of mistaken identity.
- Mr. Martinez was detained for 90 minutes in a holding cell.
- The couple has not received an apology from authorities or the cruise line.
Birthday Celebration Ends in Shocking Arrest
Jose Martinez and his wife, Tamara Verhas, were celebrating Mr. Martinez's 50th birthday with friends on the Carnival Horizon. Their southern Caribbean cruise had visited the Dominican Republic and the Antilles archipelago. The ship was docking back in Miami, Florida, on Monday, January 5, when the incident unfolded.
Just before 7 AM, the couple heard a loud banging on their cabin door. Ms. Verhas recounted the events, stating that the door immediately opened. Three armed men, dressed in black, entered their room. They pointed flashlights at the couple and began shouting.
Incident Details
- Date: Monday, January 5
- Time: Just before 7 AM
- Location: Carnival Horizon, docking in Miami
- Duration of Detention: 90 minutes
The officers proceeded to handcuff Mr. Martinez. His wife, Ms. Verhas, began to film the arrest on her phone. A female agent then entered the cabin and reportedly jumped onto the bed to try and snatch the phone. Ms. Verhas confirmed the agent successfully took her phone. Both Mr. Martinez and her phone were then taken away for approximately 90 minutes.
Mistaken Identity Confirmed After Detention
During his detention at the Miami port, Mr. Martinez was held in a holding cell. Officers conducted checks on his credentials. Eventually, authorities informed the veteran that they had been looking for a different individual. This other person shared Mr. Martinez's name and had an active arrest warrant.
After confirming the mistaken identity, Mr. Martinez was cleared and escorted back to the ship. He stated that he did not receive an apology for the ordeal. The lack of an apology left him questioning the process.
"If it is just based off of my name, what other due diligence did they do?" Mr. Martinez asked. "What other information did they use to justify the means of going into the room and pulling me out the way they did?"
Background on Mr. Martinez
Jose Martinez is a Coast Guard veteran. His wife confirmed that he has no criminal record and has never been arrested. He has also undergone FBI clearance, indicating a clean background. This history made the sudden arrest even more bewildering for the couple.
Cruise Line and Authorities Respond
Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement regarding the incident. The company acknowledged that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) took a guest into custody. They identified the guest as a "person of interest."
The cruise line emphasized that this was a law enforcement matter. Carnival stated it was not involved in the investigation or the action taken by authorities. They deferred all further questions to the appropriate government agencies.
As of now, the couple reports they have not received any apology from CBP. They also have not had further communication from Carnival Cruise Line following the incident.
Emotional Impact of the Event
The experience left a significant emotional toll on Mr. Martinez and Ms. Verhas. They described crying for the remainder of the day after the arrest. The effects of the situation continued to linger.
- Emotional Distress: The couple reported crying for the rest of the day.
- Lasting Impact: They continue to feel the effects of the incident.
- Sense of Injustice: Mr. Martinez highlighted the lack of humanity in the situation.
Mr. Martinez expressed concern that such an event could happen to anyone. He described the incident as "dehumanizing" and "unnecessary." He emphasized that the situation highlighted a broader issue.
"The fact that what happened to me shows this could happen to anybody," Mr. Martinez stated. "There are so many other people out there that this is happening to, maybe not on a cruise ship, but maybe on the streets or in their homes. And it’s just not right. There’s no humanity in it. It’s unnecessary. It’s dehumanising."
The lack of clear communication and the aggressive nature of the arrest have raised questions about law enforcement procedures in such situations. The couple continues to seek answers and accountability for the mistaken identity incident.
