Randy Almendarez-Romero

Name:
Almendarez-Romero, Randy

Date of Booking:
01/24/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DRIVING WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE – M

Open Container – M

Improper U-Turn – M

HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT – M

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL – M

NO PROOF OF INSURANCE – M

STATE CUSTODY HOLD – M

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 January 24, 2026]

On January 24, 2026, at approximately 2242, I observed two disabled vehicles in the intersection of southbound Ogeechee Rd and westbound Hwy 204 entrance ramp in the unincorporated area of Chatham County. It was late determined to be a hit and run and DUI investigation. I wore my reflective vest. My BWC was activated.

I made contact with the driver of vehicle 2, [VICTIM #1], who advised the driver of vehicle 1 fled the scene. [VICTIM #1] described driver 1 as an older white male wearing jeans and a reflective vest. [VICTIM #1] stated Driver 1 fled on foot with a passenger he believed was a child due to his short stature. [VICTIM #1] observed Driver 1 and his occupant running towards the ramp near the wood line along westbound Hwy 204 entrance ramp. I radioed the description and location of Driver 1 that was provided by [VICTIM #1]. Driver 1 was later captured and detained by the additional responding officers. Driver 1 was identified as Randy Reiniery Almendarez Romero.

During the investigation, Ofc Pascoe advised Romero had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his person and suspected Romero of being impaired. Romero refused field sobriety test. While Romero was detained in the rear of the patrol vehicle, I made contact and read implied consent in which Romero stated he did not understand and refused. While speaking with Romero in the rear of the patrol vehicle I could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath as he spoke. Romero was then placed under arrest for DUI-less safe.

A search of Romero’s vehicle was conducted in which officers found an open container of Modelo beer, which I observed in a black bag in the front seat. In search of Romero’s vehicle information, I found his insurance had expired 03/19/2025. Due to Romero’s refusal to communicate I was not able to determine if he had updated insurance while on scene.

Driver 2 Statement

[VICTIM #1] stated he was traveling southbound on Ogeechee Rd in the left lane. As [VICTIM #1] approached the westbound Hwy 204 intersection, he observed vehicle 1 on the northbound lanes of Ogeechee Rd. [VICTIM #1] stated vehicle 1 was stopped in the left turn lane, slightly in the intersection, as if he was waiting to make a U-turn. As [VICTIM #1] entered the intersection vehicle 1 then crashed into the front of vehicle 2. I observed damage to the front end of vehicle 2 on the driver side. [VICTIM #1] complained of pain in both thumbs and upper chest/shoulder area. [VICTIM #1] was treated by Chatham EMS on scene. Vehicle 1 was removed by Sapp’s. [VICTIM #1] left the scene with his son.

At the conclusion of the investigation Romero was charged with DUI-less safe and received citations for Open Container, Driver without a license, Improper U-turn, and no valid insurance. Romero was transported to Memorial Hospital and CCDC by Ofc. Pascoe. I completed a tow form for both vehicles and provided a copy to both drivers. I provided [VICTIM #1] with a case report number with instructions on how to receive a copy.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on January 24, 2026]

On 01/24/26, while on uniformed patrol in a marked unit, I, Ofc. Pascoe, responded to assist Ofc. Miller with a motor vehicle crash that occurred on Ogeechee Rd. near the westbound GA Hwy 204 on-ramp. Ofc. Miller advise over the radio that one of the drivers had fled the scene on foot.

Prior to my arrival, Cpl. Lehmann advised over the radio that he had located a possible subject nearby in a wooded area. Upon arrival, I met with Cpl. Lehmann, Ofc. Marcantel, and Ofc. Sampson, who had two individuals detained. I observed one Hispanic male wearing an all-gray sweatsuit with a yellow reflective construction vest. I then made contact with Ofc. Miller to obtain a description of the fleeing driver. Ofc. Miller advised that the drive of vehicle 2 did not get a clear look at the subject but believed the subject was wearing gray or white clothing with a yellow reflective vest.

I returned to Cpl. Lehmann and the other officers and confirmed that the detained subject matched the description of the driver of vehicle 1. During this time, the subject repeatedly asked for his phone. I asked where his phone was located, and the subject stated it was inside his truck. I asked which vehicle was his truck, and he pointed toward a white pickup truck involved in the crash.

We began walking the subject toward my marked unit so he could be evaluated by Chatham EMS. Due to a ditch that needed to be crossed, we walked to a drier area. It was apparent the subject had run through the ditch, as his pants were wet. While walking with the subject, I detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. Ofc. Marcantel asked the subject if he would be willing to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, and the subject declined to respond.

After returning to my marked unit, we located the subject’s wallet, which contained a Mexican driver’s license identifying him as Randy Almendarez. A key was also found on the subject’s person, which appeared to belong to a white 2016 Ford F-150, matching the description of vehicle 1. I pressed the key fob, which activated the truck, confirming the subject was the driver of vehicle 1.

Randy continued to ask for his phone, so I conducted a brief search of his vehicle in an attempt to locate it. I did not locate a phone; however, I observed an opened tall aluminum can that was cold to the touch and still contained liquid, wrapped in a plastic bag on the passenger-side floorboard. I opened the bag and observed the can to be a mostly empty can of Modelo beer. Photographs were uploaded to Axon Capture.

I returned to my vehicle, where Ofc. Stephenson was placing Randy in the rear seat due to the cold weather conditions and the subject being wet. I then ran Randy through GCIC/NCIC, which revealed an active warrant out of McIntosh County, warrant number 2024STCR928. I began the warrant confirmation process.

Ofc. Miller, the primary investigating officer for the crash, approached my vehicle and read Randy Georgia Implied Consent for persons 21 years of age or older. I heard Randy verbally refuse. Randy then asked for his passport, which he stated was inside his truck. Ofc. Stephenson went to retrieve the passport and returned with it.

Ofc. Stephenson and I transported Randy to Memorial Medical Center for medical evaluation. While at Memorial Medical Center, I received confirmation of the active warrant. After being released from Memorial Medical Center Ofc. Stephenson and I transported Randy to the Chatham County Detention Center, where jail staff took custody of him.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #3 on January 24, 2026]

On 01/24/26, while on uniformed patrol in a marked unit, I, Ofc. Stephenson, responded to assist Ofc. Miller with a motor vehicle crash that occurred on Ogeechee Rd. near the westbound GA Hwy 204 on-ramp. Ofc. Miller advised over the radio that one of the drivers had fled the scene on foot.

Prior to my arrival Cpl. Lehmann advised that he had a possible subject detained.

Upon arrival Ofc. Pascoe met up with Cpl. Lehmann and the other officers as I followed behind him. After Ofc. Pascoe brought Randy to the marked unit to be checked by Chatham EMS, I searched Randy, placing his wallet and keys on the hood of the marked car and placed Randy in the back of the marked unit due to him being wet and the weather conditions being cold.

After I secured Randy in the back of the marked unit, Ofc Pascoe asked about an ID, I did a quick search of his wallet and didn’t find a driver’s license but found a Mexico drivers license I informed Ofc Pascoe of this.

Randy kept asking for his Phone and said his phone was in his truck, I advised Ofc Pascoe that I was going to do a quick search of the truck to see if his phone was in there, after I did a quick search I advised Randy that his phone wasn’t in the truck.

After Ofc Miller read implied consent and Randy denied, I and Ofc. Pascoe transported Randy to Memorial Hospital to have him cleared. After the hospital cleared Randy, I and Ofc Pascoe transported Randy to Chatham County Detention Center without incident.

Jail staff took custody of Randy.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #4 on January 24, 2026]

On January 24th, 2026, at approximately 2242 hours, I, Corporal Christian Lehmann was on routine patrol in the area of the 5900 block of Ogeechee Road in Savannah, unincorporated Chatham County, Georgia, when I heard Officer Miller call out over the radio that she was on scene with a two vehicle accident on Ogeechee Road near the westbound on ramp of Georgia Highway 204.

Additionally, Officer Miller advised that two people had fled from one of the vehicles, giving descriptions of the suspects as a white male, wearing an orange reflective vest and jeans and a juvenile. Officer Miller advised the fleeing individuals had run up the westbound on ramp.

I proceeded to the scene and began driving up the westbound on ramp. As I continued up the on ramp my headlights illuminated a man wearing an orange reflective vest standing in the woodline to the north of the on ramp. I exited my patrol vehicle, began approaching the area in which I observed the suspect in the woodline and began illuminating the area with my flashlight. As I got closer to his position, I observed another male in a pink hoodie standing near him.

I could see that the male in the reflective vest appeared to be a light skinned Hispanic male and the other male was a darker skinned Hispanic male. As I got even closer, Officer Sampson and I began giving the males verbal commands to raise their hands and walk towards us. I then observed a shorter figure that could not see very well, begin to flee northbound towards the general area of the intersection of Little Neck Road and Ogeechee Road. Due to the other two men still being on scene and a fence being between officers and these two men, we were unable to give chase to the fleeing individual.

I told Officer Sampson to keep sight of the two remaining men as I began walking eastbound along the fenceline I search of a break in the fence. I eventually was able to come to the end of the fence as several other officers arrived on scene. Officers entered the woodline and approached the two men as they exited the woodline. I detained the man in the pink hoodie, later identified as [WITNESS #1], while other officers detained the man in the reflective vest, later identified as Randy Aldmandarez. Officers then escorted [WITNESS #1] and Randy out of the woodline.

I began speaking with [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] advised he was uninvolved in the accident and did not know the other two individuals in the woodline. [WITNESS #1] advised he homeless and has a camp nearby in the woodline. [WITNESS #1] advised he was walking around in the woodline looking for his dog when he heard the accident occur.

[WITNESS #1] advised he began walking towards the accident to see if anyone needed assistance when he came upon Randy and the other individual standing in the woodline. I asked [WITNESS #1] if the other individual was a juvenile and [WITNESS #1] advised he was actually a very short adult male. [WITNESS #1] described him as a Hispanic male wearing a red hoodie or pullover. [WITNESS #1] advised he did not get a good look at him due to the darkness inside the woodline but he was sure he was not a juvenile.

Officer Miller advised me that the occupants of the other involved vehicle only saw two people flee from the vehicle and described them similarly to Randy and the other fleeing short Hispanic male. Based on this it was determined [WITNESS #1] was most likely not involved in the accident and he was released from the scene.

Officer Sampson and I then searched the area around the crash scene but did not locate the other fleeing suspect

[End of Narrative]