Tipster Leads Police to Drunken Man Driving With Kids in Truck, Affidavit Says

A Pennsylvania man was under the influence of alcohol while driving with three children in the vehicle on Labor Day, according to an arrest affidavit.

Julian Martinez-Ramirez, of Hanover, Pa., was charged with driving while intoxicated after a citizen flagged down a police officer at the Exxon Station on Martinsville Road at about 9:15 p.m Monday.


The affidavit said Officer Chris Baxter was directed to a 2000 Chevrolet pickup truck with Pennsylvania license plates that was parked at the gas pump, according to the court document. 

Baxter then observed the driver of the pickup "abruptly pull away from the gas pump at an unsafe speed, almost striking another vehicle," the affidavit said.

Baxter then followed the vehicle, and noted the driver failed to properly signal a turn or to stay in his lane while driving, according to the affidavit.

Baxter stopped the vehicle and spoke with Martinez-Ramirez, noting there were two adults and three children in the truck, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, the driver's eyes were bloodshot and watery, and his hand movements were slow and fumbling as he retrieved his driving documents.

The officer also detected a strong odor of alcohol on the man's breath, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Martinez-Ramirez was asked to take a field sobriety test, which he failed. He was also asked to take a horizontal gaze test, maintaining balance, doing a leg stand, walk and turn, and more. The court document said he also was administered a psycho-physical test, which he failed.

Baxter then placed the driver under arrest for driving while intoxicated, according to the affidavit.

After being read his Miranda rights, Martinez-Ramirez told the arresting officer the children inside the vehicle were 3, 7 and 9 years old, the affidavit said. His wife also was inside the truck, according to the court paper. The children's relationship to Martinez-Ramirez was not specified in the affidavit.

The affidavit also said Baxter obtained a telephonic search warrant from Judge Fred Kumpf to have the Pennsylvania man's blood drawn for testing. Martinez-Ramirez then was transported to Morristown Medical Center, where his blood was tested, and he was charged with three counts of driving under the influence with a minor as a passenger in his vehicle, according to the affidavit.