Travis Martin

Name:
Martin, Travis Lee

Date of Booking:
10/23/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
RECKLESS DRIVING

SPEEDING

IMPROPER LANE CHANGE

WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BY USE OF THREATS OR VIOLENCE – FELONY

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CERTAIN FELONIES

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on October 22, 2025]

On October 22, 2025, Deputy Motes was notified by Investigator Segars and Investigator Jones, over the radio, they were on Highway 441 SE near the Habersham County Line and had spotted a grey in color Infiniti passenger car (V1) driving recklessly. The investigators (who were in unmarked vehicles) stated V1 had almost hit another vehicle by improperly changing lanes, and was travelling at a high rate of speed (visually estimated at 90+mph in a 55mph zone).

The investigators continued following V1 southbound on Highway 441 and were able to obtain the tag displayed on the rear of V1 [REDACTED]. After running the tag through GCIC, deputies discovered the tag returned to V1 and the address of [800 BLOCK] Harmony Church Road. The investigators advised Deputy Motes V1 had turned on Highway 105, likely going towards Harmony Church Road.

Deputy Motes turned onto Harmony Church Road from Highway 441 in an attempt to locate V1 for a traffic stop. Deputy Motes passed [800 BLOCK] Harmony Church Road and a short distance afterwards, Deputy Motes passed V1 going the opposite direction and towards [800 BLOCK] Harmony Church Road. As V1 passed, Deputy Motes observed a white male driver with grey in color hair. Deputy Motes turned around to catch up to V1 but did not see it as he approached [800 BLOCK] Harmony Church Road.

As Deputy Motes passed [800 BLOCK] Harmony Church Road, he observed V1 had pulled into the driveway and was parked next to the house. Deputy Motes turned around and pulled into the driveway of [800 BLOCK] Harmony Church Road at which point he observed the same male subject he saw driving V1 (later identified as Travis) closing the gate approximately halfway up the driveway.

Deputy Motes exited his vehicle and approached the gate where Travis was standing. Deputy Motes explained the reason he was speaking with Travis which was the testimony of the investigators who saw his driving behavior. Deputy Motes requested Travis’ drivers license to which he did provide Deputy Motes with his Georgia Drivers License.

Deputy Motes observed Travis had a black in color pistol tucked in the front center of the waist band of his pants at which time Deputy Motes instructed Travis, who was currently standing on the other side of the shut gate from Deputy Motes, to come to the side of the gate Deputy Motes was standing on. Travis began arguing the validity of the traffic stop to which Deputy Motes advised Travis it was a traffic stop and once again told him to come to the other side of the fence to which he continued to refuse. Travis continued arguing the legality of the stop.

Due to Travis disobeying lawful orders given by Deputy Motes during a lawful traffic stop, Deputy Motes reached for Travis’ person to guide him towards the side of the gate Deputy Motes was standing on and to secure Travis’ firearm due to him not complying. At this time, Travis pulled away from Deputy Motes and began walking towards his residence while yelling about the legality of the interaction.

Deputy Motes opened the gate and began to pursue Travis up the driveway while loudly yelling for Travis to stop. Travis continued walking towards his residence. Deputy Motes caught up to Travis near the residence, placed his hands behind his back, and verbally told him he was under arrest. Travis’ dad stepped out the front door of the residence while Deputy Motes was attempting to place Travis in handcuffs.

Due to Deputy Motes being unsure about Travis’ dads demeanor, Travis actively attempting to pull his arms away from Deputy Motes, and Deputy Motes’ safety concern of the firearm in Travis’ waist band, Deputy Motes decided to walk Travis to his patrol car and gain a more secure situation to handcuff Travis. Deputy Motes began walking Travis down the driveway towards his patrol car while still holding his arms behind his back.

As Deputy Motes was walking Travis down the driveway, Travis began actively pulling away from Deputy Motes and attempting to get his arms loose from Deputy Motes’ grasp. Travis was then able to get his left arm free from Deputy Motes and immediately moved his left hand to the center front of his waist band, which was the exact location of the firearm.

At this time, Deputy Motes believed Travis was attempting to retrieve his firearm and use it against Deputy Motes to cause him harm or death. Deputy Motes grabbed Travis’ left arm and moved it away from his waist band. Deputy Motes then picked Travis up off the ground and placed him on the ground on his stomach to gain control of Travis. Deputy Motes gained control of Travis’ arms and was able to retrieve the firearm from Travis’ waist band. Deputy Motes secured the firearm and then placed Travis in handcuffs behind his back. Deputy Motes searched Travis incident to arrest and no other items of interest were located.

Travis immediately began complaining of pain to his left elbow and left shoulder. Deputy Motes stood Travis up, walked him to his patrol car, and secured him in the patrol car. Deputy Motes removed the magazine of the firearm Travis had in his waist band (Canik TP9 9mm pistol) and observed the firearm was loaded with 15 rounds.

Other deputies arrived on scene and EMS was requested to evaluate Travis due to his complaints of injury. EMS arrived on scene and Travis advised he believed his left shoulder was injured. EMS evaluated Travis and stated they did not see or feel anything wrong with Travis’ left shoulder at this time, but suggested he be taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

While awaiting another deputy to arrive on scene to transport Travis to the hospital, Corporal Burnette read Travis the Miranda Warning to which he stated he understood and would speak with deputies. Travis admitted to Corporal Burnette he did not listen to Deputy Motes’ commands and was going inside the house to see his dad because he did not believe the stop was legal.

Deputy Forrester arrived on scene and transported Travis to NEGMC Habersham for evaluation. Travis will be transported to Banks County Jail once he is cleared at the hospital.

Deputy Motes submitted the Canik TP9 pistol into evidence. Investigator Segars will be completing a supplement. Citations issued. Warrants will be obtained.

Deputy Motes did receive scrapes to his left hand and right elbow during the incident. Deputy Motes also has slight swelling in his left hand. First report of injury form was completed.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on October 22, 2025]

On Thursday, October, 22nd, 2025 Investigator Jonathan Segars along with Investigator Perry Shirley and TFO Javan Jones were traveling Southbound, in separate vehicles, on GA Hwy 15 at the Habersham/Banks County line. Investigator Segars observed a silver in color passenger car pass by him at a hight rate of speed, moved over into the lane that Investigator Segars was in (#2 lane) and then into the right hand turning lane where the vehicle passed TFO Jones and entered back onto GA 15 moving straight over to the #1 lane where the vehicle was caught by other traffic at the red light at Willingham Ave.

Once the light turned green, the vehicle continued Southbound on Ga Hwy 15 into Banks County. TFO Jones was able to obtain the tag number on the vehicle and once traffic had spread out, the silver vehicle passed another car and was following cars too close until they moved out of its way. Investigator Segars ran the tag which returned to an address on Harmony Church Rd.

Investigator Segars asked Dispatch if there were any Patrol units North of Homer on GA Hwy 15 to which D/S Motes advised that he was at Hwy 198 and would attempt to make contact. Investigators attempted to maintain visual contact between the Banks County line and Wofford Creek Rd on the silver vehicle but the vehicle continued to speed away at speeds in excess of 90+ MPH. Investigator Shirley advised that he observed the tail end of the vehicle take a left onto Hwy 105, to which Investigator Segars advised D/S Motes.

A short time later, D/S Motes made contact with the vehicle at the registered residence on Harmony Church Rd. Investigator Segars heard D/S Motes key up on his radio and heard that he sounded distressed. Investigator Segars then responded to the address where he found a white male handcuffed and D/S Motes at the Patrol Unit.

D/S Motes explained that after making contact, the male attempted to walk away from him and that he had attempted to escort him back to the vehicle at which point the male jerked one of his arms away and reached for his waist band where he was carrying a pistol. Other Patrol Units arrived on scene and Investigator Segars left the location due to other units being on scene.

[End of Narrative]