Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) investigators confiscated thousands of dollars of illegal drugs following patrol deputies’ arrest of a Gainesville man on numerous traffic violations Monday.
HCSO NEWS RELEASE:
At approximately 1:00, deputies observed a westbound pickup truck straddling the double yellow
line on Mountain View Road. They followed the vehicle for additional observation and lost sight of it on
Tumbling Creek Road.
Deputies then located the pickup in a parking lot in the 2000 block of West Park Drive. When they attempted to speak with the driver, ordering him to roll his window down, he put the pickup in reverse and drove away.
Deputies activated their blue lights and sirens and pursued the truck, losing sight of it around Ga. 13/Atlanta Highway and Thurmond Tanner Parkway.
Deputies, who had identified the driver as Rodolfo Rodriguez-Puentes, 22, of Gainesville, obtained arrest
warrants 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 responded to Rodriguez-Puentes’ residence in the 2000 block of South Oaks Drive to serve the warrants. Another occupant of the home led deputies into the garage where they located the pickup truck and a bag of marijuana on a shelf in plain view. They arrested Rodriguez-Puentes on the traffic offenses and contacted the HCSO Special Investigations Unit (SIU), who obtained a search warrant for the home.
During the search, investigators seized approximately 440 grams (more than 1,700 pills) of alprazolam and 327 THC cartridges containing approximately 2000 mg each of THC liquid. Investigators also confiscated more than 1,800 grams or greater than four pounds of marijuana, four firearms and roughly $7,000 cash. The combined street value of the drugs is roughly $61,900.
Investigators obtained additional arrest warrants for Rodriguez-Puentes related to the drugs and weapons on Tuesday. The added charges are:
- 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)
Rodriguez-Puentes remained in the Hall County Jail without bond on Wednesday afternoon.