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Name:
Santibanez, Miguel Jorge Pedro
Date of Booking:
07/16/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (less safe)
Driving while License Suspended or Revoked – 1st Offense
Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
Marijuana possession less than 1 oz.
Speeding
Consumption/Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area
Consumption/Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area
Consumption/Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area
Consumption/Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area
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.]
On Wednesday, 7/15/26, at 0115 hours, I, Officer Scoggins, (516), was running Lidar (17896) on Bethlehem Road at Atlanta Highway SE. I was sitting in the Shaved Ice parking area just off Bethlehem Road. I noticed a single vehicle traveling at a very high rate of speed. I activated the lidar and locked the vehicle’s speed in at 60 mph in a 35 mph zone. The vehicle was the only vehicle on the roadway at the time. I could see the vehicle’s headlights move from fog line to centerline as it came down Bethlehem Road. The vehicle failed to maintain its lane, crossing the white fog line as it stopped at the stop sign on Bethlehem Road and Atlanta Highway.
The vehicle, a black Nissan Rogue, GA Tag#[REDACTED BY AGENCY] turned right onto Atlanta Highway and stopped in the left-turn lane at the red light on Atlanta Highway and Jefferson Street. A train was coming, causing the warning arms to drop, closing Jefferson Street and causing a red no-turn arrow to appear in front of the left-turn lane. The vehicle turned left onto Jefferson Street from Atlanta Highway against the red turn arrow. The vehicle accelerated quickly and continued on Jefferson Street towards Broad Street.
I activated my emergency lights as the vehicle turned right onto Broad Street from Jefferson Street. The vehicle continued on Broad Street, finally stopping just before Statham Elementary School. I approached the driver, Miguel Santibanze [REDACTED BY AGENCY] introduced myself, and explained I stopped him for speeding 60 mph in a 35 mph zone and running a red light. While speaking with Mr. Santibanze, I noticed the strong smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. Mr. Santibanze’s eyes appeared glassy, and he was visibly disoriented. Mr. Santibanze was also incapable of maintaining his focus while speaking. I also noticed Mr. Santibanze’s speech was slurred. I observed an open tall Cayman Jacked can in the vehicle’s cup holder. Mr. Santibanze denied any wrongdoing. While speaking with Mr. Santibanze, I also smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
Mr. Santibanze stated, “You might as well take me to jail,” unbuckled his seat belt, and attempted to open the door. I instructed him not to open the door and asked what was going on. Mr. Santibanze stated, “You got me, I’m good for it. I’m not even gonna lie, you got me”. I requested another unit as backup. Mr. Santibanze stated, “Just put your handcuffs on me; I don’t wanna deal with any aggressiveness. Just pull your handcuffs out; please, just lock me up.” I asked again what was going on. Mr. Santibanze said, “Just put the handcuffs on me, so that way I don’t act out, please. I’m telling you.” I explained to Mr. Santibanze I didn’t even know what was going on yet. I was attempting to keep Mr. Santibanze calm and in the vehicle until my backup arrived.
I asked Mr. Santibanze if he had a license on him Mr. Santibanze stated, “I don’t have a license on me; that’s why I told you to put the handcuffs on me”. I asked Mr. Santibanze if his license was suspended or if he never had a license. Mr. Santibanze stated he has had a license and to just please put the handcuffs on me.
Mr. Santibanze again tried to open the vehicle’s door and exit the vehicle. I instructed Mr. Santibanze again to stay in the vehicle. Mr. Santibanze stated, “No, I gonna make it to where you have to put the handcuffs on me”. I told Mr. Santibanze not to do anything we were gonna regret. Mr. Santibanze stated, “There’s nothing I’m gonna regret that I have already regretted. So put the handcuffs on me and take me to jail or let me go”. Mr. Santibanze stated, “Please just put the handcuffs on so we can just both make this easier on us”.
Feeling I could no longer wait for backup to arrive, I asked Mr. Santibanze to step out of the vehicle and put his hands on his vehicle, which he did. While handcuffing Mr. Santibanze, I asked how much he had to drink? Mr. Santibanze stated he had two (x2) Cayman Jacked drinks. Mr. Santibanze also stated he drank a little bit while he was being handcuffed.
Dispatch called on the radio to check my status. I advised I was okay (10-4) but backup, which still had not arrived, would be great. Mr. Santibanze heard my radio traffic and stated I didn’t need backup and stated “I will lock you up all day” realizing his mistake, he then stated “I mean you will…” Mr. Santibanze then gave up trying to form a sentence and simply said “backwards”.
Mr. Santibanze was placed in handcuffs, which were double locked and checked for proper fit. Mr. Santibanze was advised he was being placed in handcuffs for my safety. I explained I still didn’t know what was going on but I smelled alcohol and weed in the vehicle. I still had not been able to get the driver’s name and birthday because of his impaired state and his determination to be arrested.
I asked Mr. Santibanze to sit on the front bumper, which he did. While sitting on the bumper of my patrol vehicle Mr. Santibanze stated, “I celebrated tonight because I got a job, I finally stated drinking and then I got locked up”.
I asked where he was coming from? Mr. Santibanze stated he was coming from Winder. I asked and that’s where you had a couple of drinks? Mr. Santibanze stated “yes, I was chilling in the driveway, and he just wanted to come home.” Mr. Santibanze stated I messed up tonight, so I apologize. Mr. Santibanze stated he was on felony probation for court. Mr. Santibanze stated he “gave permission to search car all the way through and all the way out.”
I asked Mr. Santibanze for his name and date of birth, which he provided. Mr. Santibanze spelled his name wrong on the first try. Mr. Santibanze stated, “I’m not supposed to be driving tonight; I messed up tonight.” I asked Mr. Santibanze why he was not supposed to be driving? Mr. Santibanze stated he got a DUI in January. Mr. Santibanze stated, “he was cooked and he was done.”
During the interaction with Mr. Santibanze outside the vehicle, I observed him unsteady on his feet and unable to maintain balance. I helped Mr. Santibanze locate the front bumper on my patrol vehicle several times. I placed Mr. Santibanze in the rear of the patrol vehicle. Barrow County deputies arrived for backup.
After placing Mr. Santibanze in the rear of the patrol vehicle, I returned to Mr. Santibanze vehicle to look for a wallet, driver’s license or identification. Upon searching the vehicle, I discovered four (x4) tall cans of Caymen Jacked alcoholic beverages. Two (x2) cans were cold to touch. I removed the cans from the vehicle and placed them on the hood of the patrol vehicle. Unable to locate any identification for Mr. Santibanze, I returned to my patrol vehicle and checked Mr. Santibanze name and date of birth with Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC). Mr. Santibanze returned with a drivers’ license which was suspended for driving under the influence. I advised dispatch Mr. Santibanze was under arrest.
While speaking with Mr. Santibanze in my patrol vehicle he couldn’t remember details from earlier in the police encounter. Responding to hearing a commotion from the back seat of the patrol vehicle I asked Mr. Santibanze if he was moving his handcuffs to the front of his body. Mr. Santibanze stated “no sir.” Mr. Santibanze did in fact move his handcuffs in front of his body.
I returned to the Nissan Rouge and started to fill out vehicle impound log. While doing the vehicle inventory I discovered a green leafy substance in a Ziplock bag on top of some clothes that were in a large blue plastic bin in rear of vehicle. I also discovered a box of Ziplock baggies in the glove box of the vehicle. I finished the impound sheet and called for a wrecker to impound the vehicle. Mike’s Auto towed the vehicle from the scene.
I returned to patrol vehicle and found Mr. Santibanze laying down, sleeping with handcuffs in front of his body. I woke up Mr. Santibanze and Read implied consent. Mr. Santibanze laid down during reading. After some prompting Mr. Santibanze agreed to the implied consent card by saying “sure.” I asked to sit up to be seat belted in. Mr. Santibanze refused and was belligerent, cussing and refused to comply. Mr. Santibanze was transported to the Barrow County Jail and turned over to intake deputies without injury. Mr. Santibanze issued the following citations: Speeding (Citation #S0007627, Failure to obey traffic control device (Citation #50007629), Driving on Suspended license (#50007630) , Possession of Less than loz marijuana (#50007628), Open Container (x4) (#S0007626, #50007625, #50007624, #50007623), Driving under the influence (Al Less Safe) (#S0007631)
While Mr. Santibanze was in the booking area, he became belligerent and non-compliant. Mr. Santibanze required five (x5) deputies to restrain him. Mr. Santibanze threatened the deputies while being combative and restrained. During the encounter Mr. Santibanze sustained a minor cut to his head.
[End of Narrative]