Gabriel Mendez

Name:
Mendez, Gabriel

Date of Booking:
07/14/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – LESS SAFE

IMPROPER TURN

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.]

While entering the parking lot of Waffle House (1625 Riverstone Pkwy), I observed a white 2017 Subaru Impreza GA Tag #[REDACTED] preparing to leaving the parking lot. As I performed a u-turn, I observed the vehicle leaving the parking lot turning right onto Riverstone Pkwy. The vehicle made an improper right turn by entering the gore dividing the lanes during their right turn. I initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at the intersection of Riverstone Pkwy and I-575.

I contacted the driver (Gabriel Mendez) and informed him of the reason for the stop. Gabriel advised he was driving his friends home and knew he had made an improper turn. I smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle. I requested Gabriel provide me with his driver’s license to which he complied. I ordered Gabriel to step out of the vehicle to which he complied. Gabriel moved slowly and was slightly off-balance as he exited the vehicle. I advised Gabriel to walk to the rear of his vehicle. Gabriel appeared unsteady as he walked.

I asked Gabriel if he had any alcohol to drink prior to this stop to which he stated yes. I smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person as he spoke. He stated he had one to two beers while at the Canton Icehouse (150 Keith Dr.) before 2300 hours on 07/13/2026. I advised Gabriel I smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person to which he stated he had been drinking the Heineken 0.0 as he was the designated driver. I asked Gabriel if he would preform field sobriety to which he stated yes.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus

I asked Gabriel if he had any issues with his eyes to which he stated yes. He advised he had a head injury from a vehicle accident which damaged his optical nerve. He stated his eyes would not always track equally. He stated he did not wear glasses or contacts. I advised Gabriel to follow the tip of my pen with his eyes and his eyes only to which he stated he understood. I observed Gabriel’s eyes tracked equally to my pen, his pupils were equally dilated, and no resting nystagmus. I observed lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes and distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes.

4 of 6 clues

Walk and turn

I advised Gabriel to imagine a straight line approximately the width of his foot extending out in front of him. I advised Gabriel to place his left foot on the line and place his right foot in front of his left foot with his right heel touching his left toe. I advised Gabriel to place his hands by his side and to not move until I told him otherwise. Gabriel entered the starting position.

I began explaining the walk and turn. Shortly after beginning the explanation, Gabriel left the starting position and did not enter it again. I advised Gabriel when I told him to start to perform 9 heel-to-toe steps on the line. I advised Gabriel when he reached his ninth step to leave his lead foot planted, perform a series of small steps around his lead foot, and perform 9 heel-to-toe steps. I advised Gabriel to keep his hands by his side, count his steps out loud, look at his feet, and to not stop once he started. Gabriel advised he understood.

Gabriel performed 9 steps, missed multiple heel-to-toe steps, raised his arms, made an improper turn, and stopped. When Gabriel stopped, he asked for the instructions again. I advised Gabriel I had given him the instructions at the start. Gabriel performed 9 steps, missed multiple heel-to-toe, and raised his arms.

4 of 8 clues

One leg stand

I advised Gabriel to stand with his feet together and his arms by his side. Gabriel complied. I advised Gabriel when I told him to begin to lift one foot of his choosing approximately 6 inches off the ground with his foot parallel to the ground and his leg straight. I advised Gabriel to count out loud “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three” and so on until I told him to stop. I advised Gabriel to look at his foot, keep his arms by his side, and count out loud as instructed. Gabriel stated he understood. Gabriel raised his left foot and immediately raised his arms. Gabriel swayed during the one leg stand.

2 of 4 clues

I asked Gabriel if he would provide a breath sample for a portable breathalyzer test (PBT) to which he stated he would. A PBT was unavailable at the time of this incident.

I placed Gabriel in double locked handcuffs behind the back checked for proper fit. I advised Gabriel he was under arrest for DUI. I searched Gabriel incident to arrest for hidden weapons and contraband with negative results prior to placing him in the backseat of Ofc. Redd’s patrol vehicle. I read Gabriel implied consent and requested breath to which he consented. Ofc. Redd checked via radio for an intoxilyzer operator with negative results. I read Gabriel implied consent again and requested blood to which he consented.

I searched the passenger compartment of the vehicle for sources of intoxicant with negative results. I requested list wrecker respond to tow the vehicle. Ofc. Steyer stood by with the vehicle and completed the tow sheet. I transported Gabriel to Northside Cherokee and contacted the medical staff. The blood draw was conducted by the Northside Cherokee medical staff.

I transported Gabriel to the Cherokee County Jail and released him to the jail intake officer. I searched the backseat of Ofc. Redd’s patrol vehicle for hidden weapons and contraband with negative results prior to leaving the jail facility.

The toxicology kit was submitted to evidence locker #18 and a GBI submission form was completed.

I issued Gabriel citations for an improper turn and DUI (less safe).

[End of Narrative]