Natasha Montanez

Name:
Montanez, Natasha Monique

Date of Booking:
09/22/2022

Reason(s) For Booking:
POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

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 Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 0857 hours, I was sitting stationary on Georgia 405 (72mm northbound) conducting speed enforcement. I observed a gray 2014 Nissan Rogue traveling in the inside lane of travel at a high rate of speed. I activated my department-issued radar unit, the front antenna, and it displayed a speed of 86mph. I activated my emergency equipment (lights and sirens). The final stop location was at the 73mm northbound.

I made contact with the driver (Jorge Montanez) and explained to him the reason for the stop. I asked for his driver’s license which he gave me. While speaking to the driver, I smelled the odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle. I asked the driver if any marijuana was inside the vehicle, and the passenger (Natasha Montanez) stated she has a Florida marijuana card and she handed me a gray box with a clear jar containing marijuana dab (prescription). I asked if there was any more inside the vehicle and she said no.

I returned to my patrol vehicle, radioed for Deputy Turner to come to my traffic stop to assist, and also conducted a status check on his driver’s license. It came back valid. Deputy Turner arrived on the scene.

I asked the driver and the passenger to exit the vehicle, which they did. I conducted a search of the driver’s person with no contraband being found. Deputy Turner had the passenger empty her pockets without not contraband being found.

I conducted a hand search of the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, I located a THC vape pen and one jar of marijuana dab in the front passenger area. In the backseat, the passenger side located a black case containing a marijuana dab and two glass pipes. The passenger stated all the contraband belonged to her. On the floor in the backseat area, I located a bag cooler. Inside the cooler, I located two jars of moonshine.

While searching the trunk, I located a red cooler bag and a potato chip box. Inside the cooler and the box, I located the following.

39 packaged THC gummies.
19.5 bottled juice containing THC (275mg).
8 packaged THC fruity pebbles bars.
8 packaged THC fruity pebbles bars with marshmallows.
3 packaged THC s’mores.
2 packaged THC white circles.
10 packaged THC plantains.
14 packaged THC cheese its.

After my findings, I asked who did the contraband belong to and he said it was all his. I detained the driver in handcuffs and placed him in the backseat of my patrol vehicle while I further investigate. I made contact with Investigator Sanders via phone.

I made contact with the driver. I asked the driver when was the last time he smoked marijuana and he said last night. I asked the driver if he would perform field sobriety and he said yes.

Lighting conditions consisted of daylight. The exercise surface was flat, smooth, and dry. The driver stated he wore glasses. Each exercise was explained and demonstrated to the driver and when asked if he understood, he gave a verbal yes.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
1) No clues

Lack of Convergence
1) Both eyes did not cross.

Modified Romberg Balance
1) Eyelid Tremors
2) Body Tremors

Walk and Turn
1) Step offline
2) Improper turn

One Leg Stand
1) Body Tremors

At this time I told the driver he was being placed under arrest for driving under the influence. I placed the driver in handcuffs, checked for fit, and doubled locked. I read Georgia implied consent notice for suspects over the age of 21, from my green implied consent card on the scene. The driver gave a verbal yes for blood.

I placed the driver in the rear of my patrol car and seat belted him in. The backseat of my patrol vehicle was searched after my last transport with no contraband being found. I transported the driver to the hospital where the nurse performed the blood draw. I transported the driver to the Liberty County Jail for further processing. The backseat of my patrol vehicle was searched after transport with no contraband being found.

Deputy Lynn transported the passenger to the Liberty County Jail for further processing. The backseat of his patrol vehicle was searched before and after transport with no contraband being found.

All contraband was turned over to Investigator Sanders. Both the driver and passenger will have holds placed on them at the Liberty County Jail pending Investigator Sanders’s investigation.

The vehicle was released to Liberty Towing.

The driver was issued a citation for speeding and driving under the influence. The passenger was issued a citation for drug-related objects.

[End of Narrative]