Name:
Martinez-Mojica, Maria Jose
Date of Booking:
09/11/2023
Reason(s) For Booking:
Possess Methamphetamine
Failure To Appear, Misd
Giving False Name / Address / Dob To Law Officer
Hit & Run; Driver To Stop/ Return To Accident Scene
Driving While License Is Suspended Or Revoked, Misd
Following Too Closely
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 September 11, 2023, I was patrolling the area of Hawthorne St & Glenwood Ave. I was behind a blue in color Toyota Corolla with no tag on the rear of the car. The vehicle turned south onto Glenwood Ave so I began following the vehicle.
We were in the left lane to continue south when the driver made a sudden lane change into the turning lane to go east on Ml King Jr Blvd. This lane change was made without signaling. As the vehicle turned east onto Ml King Jr Blvd, the driver did not signal again so I activated my emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The maneuvers of the driver were very sporadic and it appeared that they might be trying to get away from my vehicle.
The vehicle came to a stop on Spencer St just off of Ml King Jr Blvd. The vehicle had three occupants inside. I made contact with the driver, Kendra Bryant. I advised her of the reason for the stop and asked for her license along with an insurance card. She stated that she did not have a card but began trying to get the information from someone else via telephone.
When Officer Cruz arrived, I asked him to keep an eye on the male in the front passenger seat and I began speaking with the female in the rear driver side seat. I asked her what her name was and she stated Erica Martinez. I asked for her birth date and she hesitated a moment but ultimately gave me [REDACTED].
I could tell that she was much older than the birthday that she had provided so I asked her how old she was. She told me that she was 20 years old. The birthday that she had provided would have made her 18 years old. When I asked if she was sure, she hesitated once again. It was at that time it appeared that she was lying about her information so I asked her to step out of the car where she was detained in hand cuffs.
I had her to step to the rear of the car where she remained with Officer Kell. I then went to the front passenger door and made contact with the male who stated his name was Jaime Landeros.
After getting this information, I went to my vehicle and began checking everyone’s information. While I was in my vehicle, Officer Kell stated that the female wished to speak with me.
I exited my car and made contact with the female in handcuffs and I asked her if she was going to give me her rear name. She then advised that her real name was Maria Martinez and her birthday was [REDACTED]. I asked why she had lied and she stated that she thinks that she had an active warrant for her arrest. I explained to her that she was still going to jail for giving false name.
I walked her to the front of my car where I began searching her. I asked her if she had anything illegal on her and she stated that she may have some marijuana in her pocket. I then searched her pockets and located a clear plastic bag in the watch pocket of her shorts. This plastic bag contained a clear crystal like substance that appeared to be consistent with methamphetamine.
I finished searching Martinez and then secured her in the back seat of my vehicle after searching the back seat. She was later secured in a seatbelt in the back seat.
I went back to the vehicle and issued Bryant a citation for making an improper lane change 40-6-123 on citation #565277.
Officer Kell advised that he would take the suspected meth and process it at the Dalton Police Department.
I transported Martinez to the Whitfield County Jail. While I was in route I learned that she had two active warrants for her arrest. Once on scene at the jail, I secured my firearm in the lockbox of my vehicle. I assisted Martinez with exiting my vehicle, searched the back seat, and walked her into the facility.
Once inside I was contacted by Officer Kell indicating that the substance from Martinez field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed .9 gross grams. I then charged Martinez with 16-10-25 false name and date of birth and 16-13-30 possession of methamphetamine on warrantless arrest #67853. All paperwork and her property were turned over to the booking staff.
[End of Narrative]