Just after midnight on Friday, October 2nd, Galesburg Police responded to a disturbance call at the Best Western on Soangetaha Road. Upon arrival, police were told that a man and woman had been arguing in one of the rooms. After the first attempt to make contact with the individuals, police were eventually let into the room by hotel management based on hotel policy. According to police reports, upon entry, GPD was met at the door by the female renting the room: 23-year old Julianna Martinez of Galesburg. Inside the room, police discovered what later field-tested positive as about one gram of loose methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a single .22 caliber bullet on a table. Martinez stated that she and her boyfriend got into an argument. It was later discovered that during the disagreement, Martinez fell and hit her arm on a table – but she couldn’t recall exactly what took place. Martinez was arrested for possession of Meth less than 5 grams. After being transported to the Knox County Jail, she was taken to OSF St. Mary’s because jail staff believed she had a broken arm. After an examination in the emergency room, one ER doctor told police they believed Martinez was shot in the arm with a birdshot round.
