Cristo Ponce-Martinez

Name:
Ponce-Martinez, Cristo Alfonso

Date of Booking:
06/25/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI- Driving Under Influence Of Alcohol Under Age 21

Open Container Violation

Maximum Limits

Failure To Obey Traffic Control Devices; Running Red Light

Furnish / Purchase / Possess Of Alcohol By Minor

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 06/26/2026, I, Officer Briner, was conducting speed detection using a department-issued lidar gun (Serial #LA001246), which was tested prior to use at 1925 hrs. I was monitoring eastbound traffic on W Walnut Ave between Sheridan Ave and Riverbend Rd.

While observing traffic, I noticed a passenger vehicle traveling in the inside lane rapidly accelerate to a speed significantly greater than the surrounding traffic alongside another passenger vehicle traveling in the middle lane. I visually estimated both vehicles to be traveling approximately 70 mph from a distance of roughly 600 feet. I used my department-issued lidar gun and obtained a speed reading of 73 mph at 627 feet for the vehicle traveling in the inside lane.

Due to this violation, I positioned my patrol vehicle behind the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop by activating my emergency blue lights at the intersection of W Walnut Ave and Sheridan Ave. The vehicle, bearing Georgia tag [REDACTED BY AGENCY], changed into the designated left turn lane and proceeded through the intersection against a steady red left turn signal without stopping. The vehicle continued to the parking lot of Little Caesar’s, where it came to a stop.

I made contact with the driver, later identified as Cristo Ponce-Martinez. I advised Cristo of the reason for the traffic stop and requested his driver’s license. I asked Cristo if there was a reason he was traveling at such a high rate of speed. Cristo stated he was just trying to get home. I asked if he had been racing the other vehicle traveling beside him or if he knew the driver, to which he stated he was not racing and did not know who was operating the other vehicle.

I asked Cristo if there was an emergency that required him to drive at that speed. Cristo stated there was not, but advised his mother had been texting him to come home. I asked if he could show me the text messages. Cristo stated his cell phone had died. I observed the phone plugged into a charger inside the vehicle and observed that it was powered off.

While speaking with Cristo, I detected a strong odor consistent with an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. I also observed his eyes to be red and glossy. I asked Cristo if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages that evening, to which he initially stated he had not. I asked where he was coming from, and he advised he had just left planet fitness on W Walnut Ave.

As I continued speaking with Cristo, I observed an empty beer bottle lying on the rear passenger-side floorboard. I asked him about the bottle, and he stated it belonged to his father. Cristo further stated there was a 12-pack case of the same beer in the trunk with one bottle missing. I then asked Cristo his age, and he advised he was 19 years old.

Due to the odor of an alcoholic beverage, his red and glossy eyes, the presence of the empty beer bottle, and his age, I asked Cristo if he would be willing to perform standardized field sobriety tasks to ensure he was safe to operate a motor vehicle. Cristo consented. I had him exit the vehicle and positioned him in front of my patrol vehicle.

Prior to administering the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, I observed equal pupil size, equal tracking, and no resting nystagmus. I explained and demonstrated the test, and Cristo stated he understood my instructions. During the test, I had to instruct Cristo multiple times to keep his head still and follow my finger with his eyes only. I also observed that Cristo swayed while standing.

During the HGN evaluation, I detected 6/6 possible validated clues including:

• Lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes;
• Distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes
• Onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes.

Following the HGN evaluation, I asked Cristo if he would perform additional standardized field sobriety tasks. Cristo refused. I also asked Cristo if he would provide a breath sample using my alcosensor. Cristo refused. I again asked Cristo if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages that evening. At that time, he admitted to consuming one beer at a friend’s house prior to going to planet fitness.

Based upon Cristo’s excessive speed, his traffic signal violation, the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath, his red and glossy eyes, his admission to consuming an alcoholic beverage, his swaying while standing and the six of six validated clues observed during the HGN evaluation, I determined Cristo was under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it was less safe for him to operate a motor vehicle. I advised Cristo he was under arrest for DUI.

Cristo was searched incident to arrest in front of my patrol vehicle. He was then placed in the rear seat of my patrol vehicle. Due to comfortability, Cristo was not secured with a seat belt. Cristo advised he was a United States citizen.

I read the Georgia implied consent notice for persons under the age of 21, and Cristo agreed to submit to the state-administered breath test. I then transported him to the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office Jail. Upon arrival, I secured my firearm in the designated lockbox before transferring custody of Cristo and his personal belongings to the booking staff. My patrol vehicle’s back seat was searched both before and after transport, with no contraband or property found.

At the jail, Deputy Chris Dominick administered the state-administered breath test using the intoxilyzer 9000. The test resulted in a brac of 0.147. I completed the administrative license suspension (ALS) form, explained the form to Cristo, and he signed it stating he understood.

Cristo was issued the following citations:

• 655824 – OCGA 40-6-181 – Speeding (24-33 mph over);
• 655825 – OCGA 40-6-20 – Traffic signal violation;
• 655826 – OCGA 40-6-391(k)(1) – DUI under the age of 21 (.02 or more);
• 655827 – OCGA 3-3-23 – Underage possession/consumption of alcohol; and
• 655828 – OCGA 40-6-253 – Open container.

Prior to leaving the scene, Cristo requested that Babb’s Wrecker Service tow his vehicle. Officer Greer and I conducted a vehicle inventory. During the inventory, we located the 12-pack case of beer Cristo had previously described. The beer was poured out on the ground in front of my patrol car prior to the vehicle being released to the wrecker service.

[End of Narrative]