TIFTON — Several fights were reported in Tift County over the weekend and three arrests were made in relation to the incidents.



Cocaine baggies

Around 6:45 p.m. Friday, the Tifton Police Department responded to a call about a fight on Ferry Lake Road. Officer Kevin Griffith said he noticed Miguel Angel Lopez, 18, of Tifton standing idle outside of the store at 1003 Ferry Lake Road. He said Lopez began walking away in the direction of Goff Street and then took a few steps in the other direction before finally turning and walking into the store. Griffith said he entered the store and found Lopez to be the only other person in the store. He said Lopez was standing in the last aisle on the left.

Griffith said he walked around the corner and Lopez said, “No man. Y’all gonna lock me up.” Griffith said he told Lopez to follow him and Lopez walked down the far right aisle. Griffith said he followed and Lopez walked down the middle aisle. He said Lopez then turned down the left aisle again and the officer could see Lopez’s reflection in the glass door of a freezer. He said that he saw Lopez throw something from his right hand.

Griffith said he investigated and found two clear purple baggies containing a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine. Lopez was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine.



Santo’s fight

Around 1:37 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a fight at Santo’s Bar on Main Street. When officers arrived, Santo’s security told them that there had been a fight but things had calmed down. The security personnel told the police that the fighters needed to leave. Officer Terry Adams told the subjects to leave and they separated and walked toward their vehicles.

Adams said that Juan Carlos Martinez, 26, of Tifton then left his vehicle and became “belligerent.” He said the car’s driver pulled up to Martinez, but he refused to get in the car. Adams said Martinez began approaching some of the people that had been fighting earlier, who were then leaving.

Adams said he told Martinez to stop and leave the area, but Martinez, swearing, told him that he did not have to leave. Adams said he again told Martinez to leave but then Jesus Fernando Martinez, 21, of Tifton got out of the car. Adams said that Jesus Martinez said he would get his brother, but told Adams not to put his hands on Juan Martinez. Adams said Jesus Martinez also used curse words. Adams said he again told them to leave and a third subject exited the vehicle.

Adams said he called for back up and the Martinez brothers finally returned to the car. He said Jesus Martinez rolled the window down and said, “I’ll remember you. Yeah, I’ll remember you. We will take care of this. We’re Mexicans.”

Adams said they then sped off, shouting obscenities. Adams called for another unit to stop the car.

Griffith responded and pulled the Pontiac Grand Prix over in front of Hamm’s gun shop.

Officer Jody Abad said that Adams told him and Griffith that Jesus Martinez needed to be arrested for disorderly conduct. Abad said that while Griffith was placing Jesus Martinez in handcuffs, Juan Martinez jumped out of the car and pushed the officer. Abad said he put Jesus Martinez in his patrol car and then went to assist Griffith.

Abad said that Juan Martinez was resisting the officers’ attempts to place him in handcuffs. He said he and Griffith forced Juan Martinez to the ground and then Griffith sprayed the man with a short burst of pepper spray. Juan Martinez was arrested and both of the Martinez brothers were charged with disorderly conduct.



Wilton Avenue fight

The Tift County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous call around 4:15 p.m. Saturday about a fight involving 20 people in the area of Wilton Avenue. When deputies arrived at the scene, a large crowd dispersed. The deputies investigated but no one would answer questions about the alleged fight and no arrests were made.