Police pursuit ends in tazing

August 24, 2012

A lengthy chase through the south side of Guymon, and then East bound on Highway 3 led to the tasing and arrest of 28 year old Guymon man, Victor Manuel Martinez.
The pursuit began around 2:14 a.m. on Aug. 18 when Guymon Police Officer Seth Barby observed a blue Dodge Neon cross an intersection and travel South on Hutchinson St. where the vehicle proceeded to go left of center.
Barby signaled the vehicle to pull over by initiating emergency lights as it turned West onto SW 6th. The driver of the vehicle led Barby in a zig-zag chase on the south side of Guymon in the area of SW 5th and Roosevelt, including the alley between South Roosevelt and South Quinn.
Sgt. Francisco Lopez joined the chase and positioned in his patrol vehicle at the intersection of SW 5th and Roosevelt in attempt to stop the vehicle.
The driver went south to SW 7th where it turned east. The vehicle then turned north onto South Main, where it proceeded at high speed, passing a vehicle at the intersection of 5th and South Main without attempt to stop or yield.
The driver eventually turned off Main onto SE 3rd as Highway Patrol and Texas County Sheriff's were contacted by Dispatch via request of Sgt. Lopez.
The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed east on SE 3rd and then led the units through a variety of streets until it reached the intersection of South East and Highway 3 where the vehicle raced eastbound out of the city limits.
County units and a Highway Patrol unit joined the pursuit as the vehicle began weaving in and out of traffic along Highway 3, exceeding speeds of approximately 70 miles an hour, forcing a two vehicles off the road, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by The Guymon Daily Herald on Thursday.
About a half-mile outside town, Barby sped ahead of the vehicle and forced it to slow down.
The driver then turned into a private driveway on the North side of the road, where Sgt. Lopez and a Sheriff's Deputy immediately followed. Barby joined them in the driveway and followed the Deputy around to the back of the residence where he assisted Sgt. Lopez in apprehending the driver.
The driver jumped from his moving vehicle to flee on foot and then attempt to crawl under a barbed wire fence, at which point Sgt. Lopez activated his taser to apprehend the suspect.
Martinez was arrested and EMS was called to the location.
While EMS arrived on the scene, Martinez gave Barby a false name, Jose Martinez, and he insisted to Barby that he was not lying, according to the affidavit.
Martinez continued to be uncooperative as EMS was checking on him by acting as if he were passed out, but was responding as Barby performed two sternum rubs, and started trying to pull away.
Martinez began trying to fight off the officers as they attempted to control him, which forced the officers to take him to the ground. After he was forced to the back of the patrol unit, he began kicking the windows of the unit before he passed out.
Martinez admitted to having about 15 beers, and a partially consumed bottle of beer was found in the vehicle.
Once arriving at the Texas County Detention Center, Martinez again, became uncooperative. Barby had to remove Martinez out of the vehicle and struggled with Martinez while he tried to lead him into jail. He continued to try to pull away, causing Barby to have to reposition him to gain control. Martinez did not cooperate with Barby or the jail staff as they tried to release the handcuffs, and at one point had to be taken to the ground once again where he attempted to hit Barby in the face. Barby was able to get control of Martinez and his arm and after a struggle, was placed back in handcuffs.
Martinez is in the Texas County jail charged with Driving Under the Influence, eluding, assaulting a peace office, transporting an open container, reckless driving and left-of-center.