3-time deportee confronts school officer with gun

PHOENIX — A 23-year-old man is behind bars on numerous felony charges, accused of pointing a stolen handgun at an elementary school security officer in Stanfield.

There were no children on the school grounds at the time Tuesday.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said the guard confronted Saul Martinez, who pulled a .40 caliber handgun and told the guard to “back off.”

“He is lucky to be alive,” Babeu said of the guard. “We don’t often advise people to confront anybody. The guard didn’t know he was armed at the time. He pointed the weapon directly at the security guard, who called our deputies for help.”

Martinez admitted to having the gun, but denied pointing it at the guard. A check of the gun’s serial number showed it was stolen in Casa Grande.

Martinez, a Mexican national, had been deported by United States Border Patrol on Feb. 18, 2009, Dec. 6, 2009 and July 12, 2011.

Babeu said there had been a number of break-ins and theft at the school recently.

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