- Coleman Martin, 29, handed his resignation letter to Austin police earlier today
- The officer has been accused of faking his own death before heading into Mexico
- Police said he left a suicide note near Lake Amistad on the Texas-Mexico border
- He is alleged to have fled to Mexico before returning to the US from Colombia
Coleman Martin, 29, handed in his resignation letter today after walking into police headquarters with his attorney
A police officer accused of faking his own death in an ‘elaborate ruse’ has quit the Austin Police Department.
Coleman Martin, 29, handed in his resignation letter today after walking into police headquarters with his attorney.
He prompted a huge search effort when his truck was found with a suicide note near Lake Amistad on the Texas-Mexico border in May.
Martin is said by police to have sent a text message to his wife containing a photograph of the suicide note, detailing his intention to kill himself in the lake.
The American-Statesman quoted the attorney – Rachel Rogers – as saying: ‘It’s very important that what he does now is taking care of himself and his family.’
But a day after police sent out the alert about the missing officer, they reported that a woman in a ‘close relationship’ with Martin had emailed her explaining that he had faked his death.
Police said the email also explained that Martin rode a pedal bike to a store after leaving his truck at the lake before getting a taxi and heading to Mexico.
The officer was arrested at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport nearly a week after going missing.
He had entered Texas on a plane from Colombia.
Martin was charged with causing a false alarm.