SAN ANTONIO – The owner of Smoke BBQ+SKYBAR was arrested overnight for allegedly refusing to pull his BMW over and assaulting a VIA Transit police officer, records with the Bexar County Jail show.
Adrian Martinez, 44, was charged with driving while intoxicated, evading arrest, resisting arrest and attempting to take a weapon from an officer, according to jail records.
The incident began after 2 a.m. Thursday when the VIA Transit officer attempted to stop a driver of a BMW who allegedly had run a stop sign near E. Crockett and Chestnut streets, just east of downtown. The intersection is about a block away from the restaurant.
A sergeant with VIA Transit police said instead of stopping, the driver entered the parking garage of the nearby Baldwin apartments.
The BMW went to the fourth floor and the officer followed the vehicle. At some point, the driver and officer got into a physical struggle, police said.
The officer radioed for help and VIA police and San Antonio police responded to the scene. Martinez was arrested just before 3 a.m., records show, but a passenger in his vehicle ran off and wasn’t apprehended.
Police believe the officer may have fractured a thumb in the ordeal. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance for treatment.
Social media posts from Smoke and Martinez showed that the restaurant celebrated its 7-year anniversary on Wednesday night. Rappers T.I. and Baby Bash performed at the celebration.
“7 years ago on 4/20/2015 we opened up Smoke in Sonterra then a few years later we moved Downtown to Sunset Station,” Martinez posted on Facebook earlier Wednesday. “Against all the odds we never gave up and even through a pandemic here we are.”
Martinez lists himself as the owner on Facebook and has appeared in several news articles in recent years representing the eatery.
Smoke employees did not have a comment when questioned over the phone by KSAT.
A call to Martinez’s cell phone went unanswered on Thursday.
A bond amount has not yet been set.
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