- On Saturday, June 25, 2016, at approximately 8:25 p.m., the Georgia State Patrol, along with Gainesville Police Department and Hall County Sheriff’s Office, were conducting an Operation Rolling Thunder road check with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
 
A Ford Explorer, occupied by Rodrigo Guardiola, age 36, the driver, and Epitacio Gudino, age 31, the passenger, fled the road check at GA 53 just south of I-985. A pursuit ensued and two troopers attempted to stop the vehicle for an improper U-turn. The pursuit turned onto I-985 northbound, turned off at Queen City Parkway and then back toward the city of Gainesville. During the pursuit, contact was made between the suspect’s vehicle and GSP patrol cars. The pursuit ended at Industrial Boulevard with a collision. Both male suspects fled the vehicle.
 
Sgt. Auston Allen (Post 6, Gainesville) caught up to Guardiola at a run-off creek alongside Industrial Avenue.  As Sgt. Allen attempted to take Guardiola into custody, a physical altercation ensued and Guardiola attempted to submerge and hold Sgt. Allen underwater. Sgt. Allen was able to fire his Taser at Guardiola with no effective impact, at which point he fired his service weapon striking Guardiola. Guardiola succumbed to his injuries. Shortly afterwards, Gudino was captured nearby.  Gudino remains in custody in Hall County on charges related to the incident.  Sgt. Allen was treated and released from Northeast Georgia Medical Center
                                                                                                                                  
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident.  When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the District Attorney's Office for review.
 
 
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