Woman flees Charlotte County into Cape Coral, facing 19 charges ranging from DUI to battery on an officer

Cape Coral Police

On July 12, 2024, at around 7:40 PM, officers with the Cape Coral Police Department responded to a traffic stop initiated by a Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy at 400 El Dorado Pkwy S. Reports said a driver hit multiple vehicles and property before fleeing north on Skyline Boulevard.

The Deputy told officers a neighbor flagged him down, saying a blue sedan crashed in a neighborhood off Pine Island Rd and Skyline Blvd, and the driver may have a medical issue. The Deputy pulled the vehicle over and checked the driver’s well-being due to the heavy damage to the front of the car. The driver was later identified as Layla Martinez (DOB 08/08/01). She was screaming and appeared to be under the influence while sitting in the driver’s seat. She had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, poor coordination, and a strong odor of alcohol was coming from the vehicle. The car had multiple airbags deployed and appeared to have been in a crash.

Martinez was asked to step out of the vehicle due to the signs of impairment and so medics could check her for injuries, but she refused to get out.

Officers removed her from the car, and she began backing away from officers as if she was going to run away. She was detained and put in the back of a patrol car, where she was kicking and flinging her body around. EMS attempted to check on Martinez, but she was uncooperative. She was screaming, cursing, and spitting at officers when asked if she would participate in standardized field sobriety evaluations. Based on her erratic behavior and being uncooperative, coupled with signs of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, Martinez was placed under arrest for DUI.

Martinez was taken to the hospital for medical clearance, where she continued to be uncooperative and had to be restrained to the bed. She intentionally kicked an officer and a nurse at the hospital who was attempting to treat her. While another officer was trying to speak with Martinez and ask her questions, she spat on him.

The investigation determined Martinez:

–Hit a vehicle at a home, causing $750 in damage

–Hit two city water access covers in the neighborhood, causing $700 in damage

–Hit a vehicle at another home, causing $1000 in damage

–Struck a cement drainage pipe at that same property, causing $700 in damage

–Hit a mailbox at another home, causing $100 in damage

–Caused $1450 in damage to 4 yards

Layla Martinez (DOB 08/08/01) was medically cleared and taken to the Lee County Jail on the following charges:

–1 count in violation of F.S.S. 316.193(1)(a) – Driving Under the Influence

–7 counts in violation of F.S.S. 316.193(3)(c)(1) – DUI/Property Damage

–7 counts in violation of F.S.S. 316.061(1) – Hit and Run/Leave Scene of Crash Involving Damage to Property

–2 counts in violation of F.S.S. 784.07(2)(b) – Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer

–1 count in violation of F.S.S. 784.07(2)(b) – Battery on a Registered Nurse

–1 count in violation of F.S.S. 843.02 – Resisting Officer Without Violence

**We would like to thank the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office for helping us get another drunk driver off the streets of Cape Coral. This is a prime example of law enforcement agencies working together to keep Southwest Florida safe.