Three Gainesville men are free on bond after being arrested late Friday night by a Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy who says he saw them racing one another between Exit 20 and Exit 22 on I-985 northbound.
HCSO NARRATIVE #1:
*Around 11:15 p.m. Friday, the deputy witnessed the three suspects line up and rev their engines under the I-985 bridge on Highway 60 and then enter the northbound lanes of the interstate via the Exit 20 on ramp. The deputy estimated the three were traveling at speeds of 86 mph in a 70-mph speed zone, engaged in an obvious contest for speed.
The three suspects exited the interstate at Exit 22 and stopped their vehicles where the deputy made contact will all three and arrested them. The exit ramp was closed while the suspects were questioned and taken into custody.
Azael Ernesto Guzman, Grant Anthony Paris and Jesus Alberto Salazar – all age 20 and all from Gainesville – were arrested on the following charges:
· Speeding
· Racing on highway or streets
· Reckless driving
· Exhaust system penalty (intentionally revving engines, causing excessive noise from backfiring)
Guzman also was charged for driving with no license on his person.
Paris and Salazar posted bonds of $1,690 each, while Guzman posted a bond of $1,820. All were released from jail on Saturday…”
There was another, unrelated street racing arrest made by the sheriff’s office Friday night.
HCSO NARRATIVE #2:
“Jordan Prado, 21, of Gainesville, was arrested…after a Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy observed two vehicles engaged in a contest for speed on McEver Road in the area of Browns Bridge Road.
Prado and the second vehicle were traveling northbound on McEver Road around 6:45 p.m. when the deputy, who was traveling southbound, saw the two vehicles racing one another. The deputy turned around and was able to stop Prado on Browns Bridge Road in the area of the Hall County Government Center. The other vehicle left the scene.
As a result of the traffic stop, Prado was charged with racing on highway or streets, reckless driving and speeding (86 mph in a 45 mph zone). Prado posted a bond of $1,560 and was released from custody just before 4 a.m. Saturday…”