Dalton woman mistakenly pulled over, charges dropped, still in ICE custody

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) —  Traffic charges against Ximena Arias-Cristobal have been dismissed after dash cam footage revealed she was mistakenly pulled over during a traffic stop earlier this month.

The incident occurred on May 5, 2025, when Arias-Cristobal was stopped by a Dalton officer who believed she had made an illegal right turn at the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Thornton Avenue, where right turns on red are prohibited.

Video from the patrol car shows a black pickup truck making the improper turn.

However, the officer was briefly delayed by traffic and ultimately stopped Arias-Cristobal’s dark gray Dodge truck, which was among several vehicles turning left after the light changed.

After reviewing the footage, officials concluded her vehicle was mistaken for the actual offending truck, prompting the dismissal of all charges, including improper turn and driving without a valid license.

The Assistant Police Chief informed the City Administrator of the findings earlier today.

The City Attorney has since notified Arias-Cristobal’s legal team of the dismissal.

Multiple reports indicate she is still in custody at an ICE detention center in Georgia.

According to a GoFundMe, her bond hearing has been scheduled for May 20, 2025.