‘Let me call my mom’: Man begs for his mother after speeding off from traffic stop and crashing car, cops say

It starts with the screech of burning rubber, the roar of modified engines, and the high-octane bravado of an illegal street racing ring. It ends in a quiet, dark residential cul-de-sac with a 22-year-old man pinned to the pavement, weeping uncontrollably and begging deputies to let him call his mother.

The dramatic shift from reckless criminal evasion to a childlike emotional breakdown was entirely captured on law enforcement body camera footage released by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico. The arrest of Fernando Martinez has since gone viral, offering a stark, unedited look at what happens when the thrill of running from the law collides head-on with the cold reality of handcuffs.

For residents of Albuquerque, the incident is yet another chapter in an ongoing battle against dangerous drag racing. But for the millions who watched the footage, the story is defined by a singular, desperate plea: “Let me call my mom!”

Chaos Near the Amphitheater

The incident began on a busy evening near the Isleta Amphitheater, a popular outdoor venue in Bernalillo County that frequently draws large crowds. On this particular night, the surrounding Albuquerque roadways had been taken over by an illegal drag racing operation. Dozens of vehicles were gathering, performing dangerous stunts, blocking intersections, and weaving erratically through civilian traffic.

Responding to multiple community complaints, deputies with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office arrived to break up the gathering and restore order. While many drivers scattered into the night, one particular vehicle caught the immediate attention of law enforcement. A car, driven by 22-year-old Fernando Martinez, began maneuvering with extreme recklessness to escape the incoming cruisers.

Instead of pulling over when emergency lights flashed behind him, Martinez made a split-second choice that would alter the course of his life: he mashed the gas pedal and sped off into the darkness.

A High-Stakes Chase Through Oncoming Traffic

What followed was a terrifying pursuit that put countless lives at risk. In an effort to shake the pursuing deputies, Martinez drove with a complete disregard for public safety. According to police reports and flight tracking data, the young driver sped through multiple red lights without tapping his brakes, swerved violently across lanes, and eventually crossed the median into oncoming traffic.

As Martinez flew through the streets of Albuquerque, law enforcement utilized both ground units and airborne tracking to keep eyes on the fleeing vehicle. The use of police aircraft allowed ground units to fall back slightly, reducing the immediate pressure on Martinez in hopes that he would slow down before causing a fatal collision. However, the driver continued his desperate flight, eventually turning into a tight, residential neighborhood.

It was a fatal miscalculation. Navigating the unfamiliar suburban streets at high speed, Martinez turned down a long road only to realize too late that he had driven directly into a dead end. With no room left to maneuver, the car came to a grinding halt, entirely cornered by a wall of arriving sheriff’s cruisers.

The Breakdown: “I Want My Mom!”

The atmosphere changed instantly the moment the chase ended. Deputies exited their vehicles with weapons drawn, shouting clear, loud commands for Martinez to exit the vehicle and get on the ground. This is standard high-risk stop protocol for individuals who have just led police on a violent, multi-mile pursuit.

The tough exterior Martinez had maintained while behind the wheel dissolved in a matter of seconds. As deputies pulled him from the vehicle and forced him onto the pavement to be handcuffed, the 22-year-old began screaming in panic.

The bodycam footage captures Martinez wailing as the metal cuffs click around his wrists. Amidst his heavy sobbing, he began shouting for his mother.

• “Let me call my mom!” he shrieked over and over as deputies searched his pockets.
• “I want my mom! Please, just let me call her!”

The deputies, focused on securing the scene and ensuring no weapons were within the suspect’s reach, remained calm but firm. “Stop yelling, you’re a grown man,” one deputy can be heard saying on the video as they stood him up. Despite the reprimand, Martinez continued his emotional meltdown, his legs shaking as he was led to the back of a police cruiser.

From Traffic Stop to Federal Prison

While the viral nature of the video focused heavily on Martinez’s tearful breakdown, the inventory search of his vehicle quickly turned the situation from an embarrassing internet moment into an incredibly severe criminal matter.

Upon searching the interior of the crashed car, Bernalillo County deputies discovered a firearm. Finding a weapon in a vehicle involved in a high-speed felony flight automatically escalates the severity of the situation. However, a deeper investigation into Martinez’s background and the weapon itself opened a much larger Pandora’s box.

The local arrest triggered the involvement of federal agencies. Investigators eventually tied Martinez to a massive illegal firearms operation. What began as an illegal drag racing stop near an amphitheater uncovered a criminal enterprise involving the possession of illegal machine guns, unregistered silencers, and the illegal trafficking and sale of hundreds of firearms.

Instead of facing local probation or a brief stint in county jail for reckless driving, Martinez found himself handed over to the federal justice system. He was ultimately sentenced to federal prison for serious weapons offenses, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release upon his eventual discharge.

The Crushing Reality of Street Racing

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office highlighted this case as an example of the hidden dangers associated with the street racing subculture. Law enforcement officials across New Mexico have expressed growing frustration with these illegal gatherings, noting that they are rarely just about young people showing off their cars. Far too often, these events are heavily intertwined with illegal weapons, narcotics, and extreme violence.

Albuquerque roadways have seen a strict surge in traffic enforcement aimed squarely at curbing reckless driving and drag racing. Local authorities emphasize that high-speed pursuits are incredibly dangerous, not just for the suspect and the police, but for innocent families sharing the road.

The bodycam video of Fernando Martinez serve as a powerful cautionary tale for young drivers tempted by the bravado of the street racing scene. Out on the asphalt, surrounded by peer pressure and roaring engines, it is easy to feel invincible. But when the red and blue lights flash, and a dead end cuts off the escape route, that illusion of invincibility vanishes, leaving behind nothing but the stark, terrifying reality of a ruined future.