Martin Loeza

Name:
Loeza, Martin

Date of Booking:
09/19/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI more than .08 (after 3 hrs)

Permit Unlic Person to Drive

Failure to Yield

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 September 19, 2026]

On September 19, 2026, I, Sgt. Robertson was setting in the area of Hwy 78 and Aycock Ave. watching the red light at the intersection due to it not function correctly. The traffic light was flashing red on all three directions of the intersection. I observed a vehicle travel through the intersection without stopping at the intersection. When a traffic signal is not functioning properly all traffic must treat the intersection as a all way stop.

Due to the vehicle failing to stop I conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, I walked up to the driver side of the vehicle and explained to the driver who I was and the reason that I had stopped him. During my conversation with the driver I cold smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. The driver was unable to provide a license from Georgia or of any state. I was given a Mexico license.

I advised Officer Hill to come to my location, to turn the stop over to him for a DUI investigation stop. I stood by with Officer Hill as he conducted SFTS.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on September 19, 2026]

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Sgt. Robertson #328 was conducting routine traffic enforcement on GA Hwy 78 near Unisia Dr. when he observed a black sedan, GA Tag [REDACTED], returning through GCIC as a 2007 Infiniti G35. Sgt. Robertson observed the vehicle fail to obey a traffic control device by failing to come to a complete stop at the traffic signals at GA Hwy 78 and Ayecock Ave., which were flashing red. Flashing red traffic signals require drivers to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Sgt. Robertson conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver’s breath. The driver was identified as Martin Loeza, a Hispanic male (DOB: [REDACTED]), who did not speak English well. Sgt. Robertson requested that I respond to the traffic stop.

I, Officer Hill #350, arrived on scene to take over the traffic stop due to indicators that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol. I asked Martin to step out of the vehicle and asked him how much alcohol he had consumed. Martin stated that he had consumed one drink while at a friend’s house shortly before the traffic stop. When asked when and where he had consumed the drink, Martin did not provide an answer, which may have been due to the language barrier.

I explained to Martin that I wished to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) and advised him that the evaluations were being conducted due to his admission to consuming alcohol shortly before the traffic stop. Before beginning the SFSTs, I conducted a quick outside-the-pocket search of Martin’s pockets and waistband to ensure that he did not have any weapons on his person.

The STANDARDIZED FIELD SOBRIETY EVALUATIONS were conducted on the side of the roadway between Sgt. Robertson’s patrol vehicle and Martin’s vehicle. My patrol vehicle was positioned to prevent traffic from coming too close to the evaluation area, while Sgt. Robertson directed traffic to move over.

HORIZONTAL GAZE NYSTAGMUS (EXPLAINED / MEDICALLY QUALIFIED / UNDERSTOOD)

The following validated clues were observed: lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes, and an onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes. Vertical nystagmus was also observed in both eyes.

CLUES: 6/6 AND VERTICAL NYSTAGMUS.

WALK AND TURN EVALUATION (EXPLAINED / DEMONSTRATED / UNDERSTOOD)

The following validated clues were observed: Martin began the evaluation too soon after being instructed not to start until directed to do so. I had to repeat the instructions and the process of placing him in the starting position. Martin stopped multiple times during the evaluation and attempted to check with me to determine whether he had taken the correct number of steps. Martin used his arms for balance while walking, made an improper turn, and took an incorrect number of steps in both directions.

During the evaluation, Martin was instructed, in accordance with SFST procedures, to count his steps out loud. I advised him that he could count his steps in Spanish; however, he did not count any of his steps.

CLUES: 6/8.

ONE LEG STAND (EXPLAINED / DEMONSTRATED / UNDERSTOOD)

The following validated clues were observed: Martin swayed while his foot was lifted off the ground, used his arms for balance, and placed his foot down before completing the evaluation.

CLUES: 3/4.

PRELIMINARY BREATH TEST (PBT) (EXPLAINED / AGREED)

Martin provided multiple breath samples into the PBT after providing insufficient breath samples. Martin did not follow instructions to provide a good, steady breath until advised to stop. This may have been an attempt to hide the alcohol in his system or may have been due to the language barrier. The PBT indicated that Martin had alcohol in his system.

IMPLIED CONSENT:

Martin was read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects over 21, designating a breath test. The notice was read twice because, during the first attempt, Martin did not provide a clear answer. I believed this may have been due to the language barrier and his inability to understand the notice. I recognize that I was not required to read the notice a second time. However, I read the Implied Consent Notice to Martin a second time at the Police Department while he was being fingerprinted. During the second reading, I used a translation application to allow Martin to listen to the notice in Spanish. Martin agreed to provide a breath sample.

ARREST:

Martin was placed under arrest for DUI Per Se. Martin did not have a Georgia driver’s license and was only able to provide identification from Mexico. Therefore, Martin was also charged with driving while unlicensed and failing to yield when entering a roadway/failing to obey a traffic control device.

Martin was placed in handcuffs behind his back. The handcuffs were checked for proper fit and double-locked to prevent injury. Martin was then searched incident to arrest. Martin’s property was placed in an evidence bag, with some of his property being turned over to his friends. Martin was transported to the Police Department for fingerprinting. As stated above, the Implied Consent Notice was read to Martin a second time using a translation application, and he agreed to provide a breath sample. Once Martin was placed in the back seat of my patrol car, I used the translation app to ask if Martin was legally inside the United States, and if he had a passport. Martin advised he was here legally and has been for 15 years, but did not have his passport with him.

INTOXILYZER 9000 (EXPLAINED / UNDERSTOOD)

Martin was able to provide two adequate breath samples to Officer Kitchen #354, the Intoxilyzer 9000 operator. Martin’s first sample registered a BrAcC of 0.109, and the second Sample registered a BrAC of 0.106.

Martin was transported to the Walton County Jail without incident. Martin’s citations were issued for DUI Per Se, driving while unlicensed, and failing to yield when entering a roadway.

[End of Narrative]