Person Of Interest In Caney River Murder Arrested After Brief Standoff

A person of interest in a Collinsville murder is in police custody following an hour-long standoff in east Tulsa.

The outcome of the situation was ideal for police – no shots fired, no one hurt and the suspect surrendered peacefully.

Police went to the home near 23rd and Garnett to pick up 33-year-old Marco Alberto Martinez-Lara for a drug related warrant out of Tulsa, but Roger County investigators were also looking for Lara.

Police, with guns drawn, blocked off the street and positioned themselves around the east Tulsa house as they waited for Martinez-Lara to come out.

He goes by several names - including Louis Alberto - but his actual name is Marco Alberto Martinez-Lara. He's wanted for an outstanding drug related warrant in Tulsa.

After a brief standoff, Martinez-Lara come out with his hands raised and police took him away in handcuffs.

Martinez-Lara's girlfriend, Rosa Martinez, said she was scared when police first arrived.

"The first time I was scared because I thought maybe they had the wrong house,” she said.

She's more worried now, because Rogers County investigators named him a person of interest in the May 1 homicide of Raphael Hernandez-Torres.

Torres' body was found in his truck that had been submerged in the Caney River.

5/1/2015 Related Story: Family Of Man Found In Caney River Shocked Over Death

"Police are blaming about the murder of Raphael Hernandez. Raphael was our friend and he came to our house and I know Louis is innocent," she said.

Although Tulsa Police spear-headed the situation, they also helped out Rogers County.

During the investigation into Torrez' death, Martinez-Lara's name came up as a person of interest, but Rogers County deputies had trouble tracking him down, until Tulsa police served Thursday's warrant.

"Preliminarily we've identified some persons of interest Mr. Martinez was one of those people we tracked him down he's now in custody for the felony warrant and we will be questioning him," said Gavin Gatrell with the Rogers County Sheriff's Office.

Police said Martinez-Lara made the best decision to surrender peacefully.

And as deputies continue to investigate, Rosa said she stands by her belief that he is innocent.

Thursday's arrest was only for the warrant out of Tulsa. As of now, Rogers County only wants to question Martinez-Lara to see if he was involved in the May 1 homicide; and, as of now, he is not facing any murder charges.