MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A longtime Hialeah police officer was arrested on drunken driving charges early Tuesday morning after an off-duty crash near Doral, authorities said.
Officials said Lt. Erik Martin, 45, who has served with the Hialeah Police Department since 2006, is now on leave.
According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, deputies responding to a crash at Northwest 72nd Avenue and 47th Street at around 6 a.m. encountered Martin, who was "unsteady on his feet, with (bloodshot) watery eyes and slurred speech" and smelled of alcohol.
Martin had been in a crash with a trash truck and was handcuffed after being “belligerent” towards his fellow law enforcement officers, according to the report.
Deputies said medics took Martin to Jackson West Medical Center and a DUI investigator later tried interviewing there.
According to the report, an “uncooperative” Martin responded, “I don’t know” to several questions, including whether he “knew what was going on” and whether he had just been in a crash.
Deputies said he refused to take field sobriety tests or submit to a blood draw, the latter of which led investigators to seize his driver’s license under Florida’s implied consent law.
HPD Chief George Fuente commented on Martin’s arrest in a statement to Local 10 News on Tuesday evening.
“While we remain committed to the principle of due process, the allegations surrounding this arrest are deeply disappointing. Such incidents tarnish the badge and distracts from the tireless work of the men and women who serve this community with integrity every day.
“We do not condone this behavior; however, we recognize that our officers are human. As an agency, we will ensure our Lieutenant receives any necessary assistance and/or resources, while we navigate the legal and disciplinary processes ahead.”
An HPD spokesperson said Martin “has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both the criminal and internal investigations.”
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
