Man arrested, infant safe after SWAT scene

A one-year-old infant is safe after being locked in a northwest Houston apartment with her father for several hours early Sunday following an assault on her mother.

A charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is pending against Alfonso Martinez, 26, after an hours-long SWAT scene, according to Houston Police Department Spokesman Kese Smith.

About 1 a.m., Martinez came home to the apartment in the 6400 block of Antoine near West Little York that he shares with his wife and daughter. After the couple started to argue, Martinez allegedly pulled a pistol and threatened his fiance, Smith said. Police said when the woman tried to reach her cellphone to call for help, he physically attacked her.

"She was able to flee the apartment and call for help," Smith said. "However, he remained in the apartment with their one-year-old daughter. When patrol officers arrived, he refused to come out."

An officer with HPD's Crisis Intervention Team also was unable to persuade the man to leave the apartment, Smith said, so SWAT and the hostage negotiation team were called to the scene. For several hours, by loudspeaker and phone, the officers tried to convince him to come out. When he did not, a SWAT team forced entry and arrested Martinez without incident.

Paramedics at the scene determined the infant was unharmed.