DUI traffic stop leads to arrest of a Mammoth Lakes resident

To:       All Media Partners

From:  Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer

Date:   March 28, 2014

RE:       DUI traffic stops leads to arrest of a Mammoth Lakes resident

On the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2014, at approximately 8:20 pm, Mono County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call from an employee at the McDonald’s in Mammoth Lakes reporting a possible drunk driver in their drive thru.

Mono County Sheriff’s Deputies were clearing an unrelated traffic stop along Hwy 203, outside of the Town of Mammoth Lakes, when dispatch advised of a possible DUI driver at the drive thru at the Mammoth McDonald’s. Deputies responded to the location and witnessed a black pickup truck speeding through the parking lot onto Sierra Park Road. The driver then, rapidly, turned onto outbound Hwy 203 and quickly accelerated. Deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The truck quickly turned onto Meridian Blvd and proceeded onto Commerce Dr., where the truck stopped in a driveway.

Deputies, with the assistance of Mammoth Lakes Police Department Officers, made contact with the driver, identified as Jason Martin, age 45, of Mammoth Lakes. Mr. Martin would not comply with deputies and officers upon exiting his vehicle and resisted arrest. Mr. Martin was warned that if he continued to resist arrest and not comply with the deputies and officers instructions, he would be pepper sprayed. He continued to resist arrest and was subsequently pepper sprayed so deputies and officers could gain control over him. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Mammoth Lakes Police Department for medical evaluation by Mono County Paramedics. While being evaluated, Mr. Martin provided a breath sample with an alcohol screening test of 0.20%, more than three times the 0.08% legal limit. Mr. Martin was medically cleared and transported to the Mono County Jail in Bridgeport without further incident.

Jason Martin, age 45, of Mammoth Lakes, was arrested for evading a peace officer; resisting and obstructing a peace officer; driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol; driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol over 0.08%; driving with a suspended license for DUI; and reckless driving.

Mr. Martin is currently in custody with all charges pending with the Mono County District Attorney’s Office.