Chase tops 100 miles an hour; suspect charged later

Published 1:00 pm Thursday, June 28, 2018

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Colquitt County man was arrested after a Tuesday morning chase with police during which the fleeing driver reached speeds of 105 miles per hour and later drove into the oncoming lane of traffic.

The chase began at about 3 a.m. when a Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted a 2013 Nissan Frontier on Sylvester Drive whose owner had reported it missing.

Shane Tillman, of the 100 block of Bob Hiers Road, reported Monday that on June 16 he had allowed a female acquaintance to use the truck to drive a man he knew only as Salvador to Moultrie. Since that time the truck had not been returned nor had he been able to get in contact with the friend who borrowed it.

After seeing the truck on Tuesday, the deputy caught up with the driver near the roundabout at First Street and North Main Street and tried to make a traffic stop in a convenience store parking lot. When the officer turned on his flashing lights and sirens the driver accelerated through the parking lot and headed north and then took a right on Veterans Parkway heading toward Moultrie.

The driver, later identified as Salvador Santos Martinez, reached speeds of up to 105 miles per hour on the four-lane roadway, police said, then turned right onto Rowland Drive. Near the roundabout where that street connects with Fourth Avenue Northeast the driver nearly collided with a second police patrol car.

Continuing on Rowland Drive, the driver reached speeds of 80 miles per hour on the two-lane street while driving in the oncoming lane of traffic.

Eventually reaching First Avenue Southeast, the chase continued until the truck was taken through the parking lot of Hook restaurant. Exiting the rear of the parking lot, the driver jumped an embankment and made several more turns before abandoning the truck at Second Street and Fifth Avenue Southeast.

A witness described the driver of the Nissan as a Hispanic male wearing a blue shirt, camouflage shorts and a black ball cap. An officer noticed a man matching that description trying to hide behind a bush in front of the Moultrie Library and police took Martinez into custody.

Martinez, 37, 589 Circle Road, was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. That charge is a felony due to the speed of the chase and danger to the public. Martinez also was charged with reckless driving and driving while license suspended or revoked.

Police later discovered that Martinez had outstanding warrants for charges of probation violation and bail jumping.