Juan Lopez

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Name:
Lopez, Juan Manuel

Date of Booking:
06/05/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
False Report of a Crime

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 June 05, 2026]

On Friday, June 5th, 2026, at approximately 2218 hours, I assisted Corporal Lingerfelt with a High Risk stop on a White Toyota Sienna (Illinois tag: [REDACTED]) after a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) was given out by Bartow County 911 in regards to a possible kidnapping involving a firearm on Interstate 75 near mile marker 293, in Cartersville, Georgia.

The stop was conducting after the caller, identified as Juan Lopez, gave Bartow County 911 information that he was kidnapped by his taxi driver, [VICTIM #1], and that [VICTIM #1] had a gun and was going to shoot.

[VICTIM #1] was placed into handcuffs and into the rear seat of my patrol car. Juan exited the van and I began interviewing him. Juan told me that [VICTIM #1] had kidnapped him because he would not let him out the car when he asked him to. With this initial information, I went to the rear seat of my patrol car where [VICTIM #1] was seated.

I asked [VICTIM #1] if any promises or threats have been made to him in regards to speaking with me and he said no. He also said he could read, write, and understand English. I then read [VICTIM #1] Miranda Rights which he said he understood and agreed to speak.

[VICTIM #1] told me that he had picked Juan up form Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois. He told me that the Taxi ride was from Chicago, with the destination of Magic City, in Atlanta, Georgia. He said that the ride had gone very well from the time he picked Juan up, and up until he told Juan they were approximately one hour away from the destination. He said once he told Juan the remaining time of the ride, Juan became irate with him and called 911. He also informed me that the taxi fare was to cost Juan $3,000. [VICTIM #1] also said that Juan did tell him to let him out, and [VICTIM #1] told him no because they were on the interstate with only an hour left on the ride. He also added that it was dark and felt as though it was unsafe to let Juan out in the dark on the Interstate because he was blind.

I asked [VICTIM #1] if there were any firearms in the vehicle and he said no. With his consent, a search of the vehicle was conducted and no firearms were located. It was at this time that I became suspicious of Juan’s testimony that he had been kidnapped by [VICTIM #1] with the consideration that he had previously been riding with [VICTIM #1] for approximately 11 hours without issue.

I then interviewed Juan a second time, and he continued with the testimony that he was kidnapped by [VICTIM #1], although there was a monetary agreement for this transportation already in place and only became a concern to Juan with only one hour left on the taxi ride. I also asked him if there was a firearm involved in the altercation with [VICTIM #1] and he said no. I also asked him why he would mention a firearm to 911 emergency personnel and he said he did so to get a faster reaction time out of law enforcement.

This case was turned over to Cpl. Lingerfelt.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on June 06, 2026]

On Friday, June 6, 2026, at approximately 2208, Bartow Dispatch gave a BOLO for a white Taxi Van traveling South on 1-75. Bartow Dispatch advised they had someone call in and advised they were being held hostage by the driver, who had a gun.

I was in the area of 1-75 SB at MM 296, so I advised Dispatch to add me to the call before checking the area. Shortly after, I was able to locate a white Toyota Sienna (Illinois License Plate [REDACTED]) passing MM 296. I caught up to the vehicle, where Corporal Corbin Heaston came up behind me. I activated my emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, coming to a stop on 1-75 SB at MM 293. I exited my vehicle, drew my department-issued Glock 45 pistol, pointed it in the direction of the vehicle, and began giving loud, verbal commands over my public address system for all occupants of the vehicle to put their hands out of the closest window. I was able to call the driver, Mr. [VICTIM #1], out of the vehicle and detain him in handcuffs behind his back, where the handcuffs were checked for proper fit and double locked.

I then began calling out the only passenger we could see, later identified as the suspect/arrestee, Mr. Juan Lopez, but he refused to follow any commands. Bartow Dispatch still had him on the phone and was able to have Juan put his hands on the roof until we could clear the rest of the vehicle due to him being blind. Juan was then removed from the vehicle and escorted to a safe area.

I then met with [VICTIM #1] and read him his Miranda Warning from my department-issued Miranda Card, where he agreed to speak with me. [VICTIM #1] stated he picked Juan up at the airport in Chicago, Illinois, and agreed to drive him to Magic City in Atlanta, Georgia, for the price of $3,000.00. [VICTIM #1] stated he and Juan had gotten along for the entire 11-hour trip, and all Juan asked for was periodic updates on their location because he could not see. [VICTIM #1] stated Juan became irate once they were only one hour away from Atlanta, and began demanding to be let out of the vehicle. [VICTIM #1] stated he advised Juan that they were on the interstate and it was dark, so he asked if he could just continue driving him to his destination, which they were now only 48 minutes away from, and Juan agreed. [VICTIM #1] stated he then heard Juan on the phone with someone advising that he was being held hostage. [VICTIM #1] stated I got behind him and conducted the traffic stop shortly after.

I asked [VICTIM #1] if he possessed a firearm, and he stated he did not. I then asked [VICTIM #1] if he would allow me to search his vehicle for a firearm and to get his identification, and he stated he did not mind. I did not locate a firearm in the vehicle.

Corporal Heaston made contact with Juan while I was in the vehicle. See his supplemental to this report for Juan’s statement.

Based on statements from all parties, it was determined that [VICTIM #1] had committed no crime and only did not pull over to maintain Juan’s safety. However, Juan admitted that he lied about [VICTIM #1] having a firearm in order to make law enforcement respond faster, which is reporting false information to dispatch. Juan was then placed in handcuffs behind his back, where the handcuffs were checked for proper fit and double locked. Juan was advised he was under arrest for False Report of a Crime, and he was transported to the Bartow County Jail.

A warrant was taken on Juan for the above-listed charge.

[End of Narrative]

All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.

Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Case History:

6/23/26

ACCUSATION FILED — JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ CHARGED WITH FALSE REPORT OF A CRIME

What this means: On June 23, 2026, the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, through prosecutor Zack Lingerfelt, filed a formal accusation against Juan Manuel Lopez in Bartow Superior Court under case number SUCR2026001098. An accusation is a charging document — similar to an indictment — that officially brings a criminal charge without requiring a grand jury. Lopez is accused of one count of False Report of a Crime under O.C.G.A. § 16-10-26. The case was assigned to the May Term, 2026, of Bartow Superior Court, with Erie J. Newton III serving as District Attorney for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit.

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6/30/26

JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ PLEADS GUILTY — SENTENCED TO 12 MONTHS PROBATION AND $500 FINE AS FIRST OFFENDER

What this means: On June 30, 2026, Juan Manuel Lopez appeared before Bartow Superior Court for a plea hearing and entered a guilty plea to Count 1, False Report of a Crime. The plea was non-negotiated, meaning the terms were not the result of a deal with the prosecution. The court entered a final disposition of misdemeanor and sentenced Lopez to 12 months as a First Offender, with the sentence to be served on probation rather than in confinement. Lopez received credit for time served in custody from June 5, 2026, through the date of sentencing. A $500 fine was imposed, along with a $50 application fee and a $250 attorney fee. The sentence may terminate early upon payment of all fines and fees and completion of all probation conditions.