Gainesville Man Arrested on Traffic Violations, Faces Drug and Weapon Charges
Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) investigators confiscated thousands of dollars worth of illegal drugs after a Gainesville man was arrested for multiple traffic violations early Monday morning, Aug. 12.
At around 1 a.m., deputies observed a westbound pickup truck straddling the double yellow line on Mountain View Road. The deputies followed the vehicle but lost sight of it on Tumbling Creek Road. They later found the truck in a parking lot on West Park Drive. When deputies approached and instructed the driver to lower his window, the driver, later identified as Rodolfo Rodriguez-Puentes, 22, of Gainesville, reversed and fled. Deputies pursued the truck with lights and sirens but lost it around Ga. 13/Atlanta Highway and Thurmond Tanner Parkway.
Arrest warrants were obtained for Rodriguez-Puentes for the following traffic offenses:
- Fleeing/attempting to elude police officer (felony)
- DUI alcohol (misdemeanor)
- Speeding (misdemeanor)
- Passing in a no-passing zone (misdemeanor)
- Reckless driving (misdemeanor)
- Crossing the gore (misdemeanor)
- Failure to maintain lane (misdemeanor)
Later that morning, deputies went to Rodriguez-Puentes’ residence on South Oaks Drive to serve the warrants. They were led by another occupant of the home to the garage, where they found the pickup truck and a bag of marijuana. Rodriguez-Puentes was arrested, and the HCSO Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was contacted to obtain a search warrant for the home.
During the search, investigators seized approximately 440 grams (over 1,700 pills) of alprazolam, 327 THC cartridges containing about 2,000 mg each of THC liquid, more than 1,800 grams (over four pounds) of marijuana, four firearms, and roughly $7,000 in cash. The estimated street value of the drugs is $61,900.
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, additional arrest warrants were issued for Rodriguez-Puentes related to the drugs and weapons. The new charges include:
- Possession of Schedule IV drug with intent to distribute (felony)
- Possession of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil with intent to distribute (felony)
- Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (felony)
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime (felony)
As of Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 14, Rodriguez-Puentes remains in the Hall County Jail without bond.
