Marco Garza

Name:
Garza, Marco Antonio

Date of Booking:
05/21/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CERTAIN FELONIES

Driving Under Influence of Alcohol

Obstruction of an Officer- Felony – 2 counts

FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE A POLICE OFFICER – 2 counts

BATTERY – FAMILY VIOLENCE (1ST OFFENSE) MISD – 2 counts

Robbery – Residence – Gun

Aggravated Assault – 2 counts

SIMPLE BATTERY AGAINST POLICE OFFICER/LE DOG/CORRECTIONS OR DETENTION OFFICER

Aggravated Assault on Officer in Performance of Duties – 2 counts

Speeding in Excess of Maximum Limits

Open Container Violation

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 May 21, 2025]

On May 21, 2025, I Pfc. Flippo was dispatched to [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Tumlin for a domestic between a girlfriend and boyfriend. Dispatch advised the female complainant, [VICTIM #1], stated her boyfriend, Marco Garza, shot at her. Ofc. Dutton was already in a call with me so he responded with me due to him being closer than the other unit. Dispatch advised if he left, he would’ve left in a white truck or a silver truck.

When I arrived on scene, there was a white Toyota pickup truck in the driveway. I walked up to the front door to make contact with [VICTIM #1]. There was a language barrier so we had to attempt to also use Google Translate. She stated he was not at the residence, [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Tumlin Dr, that he left in a white Chevy Silverado, late 90s/early 2000s model. She advised the truck was lifted and had a large decal on the center back windshield of “Mother Teresa” and had a loud exhaust. She also advised there were items in the bed of the truck. That information was relayed to city. While attempting to speak with the female, dispatch advised the city was chasing the suspected Silverado. I quickly left the residence and started toward the city to assist them.

Dispatch advised the city was chasing the Silverado near Dodd Blvd and 411 East driving Eastbound. While en route to city, dispatch advised the city did lose sight of the vehicle and one of the city units did wreck due to the chase. Before assisting the city with the accident, I drove down Biddy Rd and Chulio to see if I could spot the vehicle. I was unable to locate the vehicle.

After assisting the city with the accident, I continued to check the area of Chulio, 411 E, and Mathis Rd for the White Chevy Silverado. When driving Eastbound on 411 E near Hine Rd, I noticed a Silverado that matched the description of the truck so I immediately turned around and drove Westbound on 411 E. I was able to get behind the vehicle and confirm that it was the vehicle because of the tag number and the metal rods that were in the bed of the truck. I initiated my emergency lights and sirens and advised dispatch I was in pursuit of the vehicle at 411 E and Hobson. Dispatch advised me there were city units nearby that were going to assist. During the pursuit, the vehicle was in excess of speeds 20+ mph over the posted speed limit, reaching 75 mph.

The driver turned right on to the interchange, driving toward the city of Rome. The driver then turned right on E 12th st. He then turned right on to Dean Ave. The driver then turned left on to E 14th St. He then turned right on to Callier Springs. Once the driver turned on to Callier Springs and passed Callier Forrest Apartments, myself and Pfc. Dutton realized he was driving back to [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Tumlin Dr. Marco then turned left on to Tumlin and was attempting to turn in to [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Tumlin. When I seen he was about to turn in to [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Tumlin, I pulled my police unit in front of his truck to block him in and prevent him from getting to the residence. At that time, he attempted to back up his truck but Pfc. Dutton was able to block him in from the back. Marco did intentionally hit my patrol car wit his truck on the driver side of my patrol car in attempt to flee again. I get out of my police unit and immediately did a passenger side felony stop approach due to knowing he had a loaded firearm in the vehicle.

Due to his windows being extremely dark and tinted, I busted the passenger side window out with my window buster. The window did not completely shatter so I had to bust the rest of it with my hands. During this, I did sustain some minor cuts to my left hand, my left forearm, and my right hand. There was minor bleeding on my left hand only. Sgt. Whaley did photograph my injuries. Pfc. Dutton advised me he had Marco out of the truck and on the ground. I went to the driver side of the vehicle to assist Pfc. Dutton. Marco had his hands behind his back already. I holstered my firearm and placed Marco under arrest. Marco was unable to keep his balance and could not answer our questions when being asked. He looked as if he was in a daze. Marco did admit to Pfc. Dutton that he did drink and did cocaine prior to driving. A knife was found on Marco as well as [VICTIM #1] phone that he took without permission. Marco was placed in the back of Pfc. Duttons patrol car.

During the search of the vehicle, a Glock 19 9mm serial#BECE972 was located in the driver seat directly beside where Marcos right thigh was. There was one bullet in the chamber and a fully loaded magazine in the gun. There was also an open container that fell out of the driver side door when it was opened. G&W towing picked the vehicle up. The vehicle was inventoried and searched for any bullet holes and/or casings but none were found. I went back to the residence to speak with [VICTIM #1]. She stated that Marco had left and came back several times. She advised that the last time he came back, he called her and asked her if the door was unlocked. She stated it was but he kept telling her it was not. She state she opened the door for him and he immediately went to get 2 beers out of the fridge.

[VICTIM #1] stated that Marco always wanted to go through her phone because he did not trust her and thought she was talking to other guys. She stated that he went outside to sit in his truck so she called him and asked if he was going to stay outside or come in because if he was not going to come inside, she was going to lock the doors. She stated she went outside to sit in his truck with him. She stated they were arguing so he grabbed his gun and fired one round behind her while she was leaning up. She stated she then ran inside and he started running behind her and he stated “if anything happened, he wasn’t going alone.” She stated she then tried to go to the restroom and he grabbed her by her hair because she did not want to give him her phone out of her pocket.

[VICTIM #1] stated Marco wanted to take the phone because he thought [VICTIM #1] was going to call the police for him shooting at her. [VICTIM #1] stated since she did not give him her phone, he hit her in the head with the gun, leaving visible markings as well as substantial bruising. [VICTIM #1] stated he also pointed the gun at her head. [VICTIM #1] advised he was able to take her phone away but she was able to call 911 with a different phone. She stated Marco also either bit her or hit her with an object in the back, leaving substantial markings on her back. All victims injuries were photographed.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on May 21, 2025]

On May 21, 2025 at approximately 3:23am. I assisted Officer Flippo with a domestic violence call at [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Tumlin Dr. Once on scene the victim advised that the aggressor struck her in the side of the face with a firearm. She had redness on the side of her face consistent with her statements. She also advised that he struck her in the area of her back, she also had redness and bruising in this area. She advised at some point he fired the firearm in her direction but missed her.

She advised that he also took her iPhone by gunpoint as well. She advised that he is the father of the children who were present inside of the house during this altercation. The victim advised that he left the scene prior to our arrival. She advised that he would be driving a lifted white Chevy truck. The identity of the truck was bolo’d out to nearby agencies. While Officer Flippo was collecting the statements of the victim, I patrolled the area in an attempt to locate the aggressor.

While I was patrolling the area Rome City PD advised that they were behind the vehicle, once they attempted to stop the vehicle the driver fled. Rome City PD advised that due to an accident they lost the suspect in the area of Callier Springs at Mathis Rd. During this time myself and Officer Flippo were in the area attempting to locate the suspect as well. After a short while Officer Flippo located the vehicle in the area of 411 at the Ga 1 Loop. At this time Officer Flippo attempted to stop the vehicle and it fled again.

The vehicle was a lifted white Chevy truck that matched the description given by the victim and Rome City PD. It fled from 411 at the Ga 1 Loop, past Chateau Dr., to the exit ramp that led to Turner McCall Blvd, then turned onto the Dean Ave exit, then into E. 14th, to Callier Springs, back to [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Tumlin Dr.

Officer Flippo attempted to block the suspects path by pulling her vehicle in front of his. At this time he struck her vehicle with his, then placed his vehicle in reverse and backed into mine. At this point myself and Officer Flippo were outside of our vehicles ordering the driver out by gunpoint. The driver got out of the vehicle and followed my orders to lay on the ground. Once on the ground he was placed under arrest.

While taking the driver back to my vehicle I smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. I asked him if he had been drinking and he wouldn’t respond. Once in the car I asked if he had taken any drugs and he advised that he was using cocaine and he didn’t feel good. I read implied consent to the driver and he refused implied consent.

EMS was requested to evaluate Officer Flippo’s injuries along with the driver. EMS came and cleared the driver. At this time we began to search the vehicle. While searching the vehicle I located an open container of an alcoholic beverage, a black Glock 19, and the iPhone that was stolen.

Once the evidence was collected the on call wrecker service was called to pick up the truck. The driver was identified as Marco Garza. Per Sgt. Whaley Pfc. Bray transported Marco to the hospital for medical clearance and myself and Officer Flippo went to EMS Headquarters for a drug screen due to Marcus crashing into our vehicles.

[End of Narrative]