By Lauren Foreman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HALL COUNTY, Ga. — The state identified a man who was shot and killed after leading Georgia State Patrol troopers on a chase in Hall County and allegedly trying to hold a sergeant under water Saturday.
The incident began at a DUI checkpoint and ended with an arrest and three Georgia state troopers wounded, police said.
Multiple law enforcement officers were working a DUI checkpoint on Interstate 985 in Gainesville around 8:30 p.m. Saturday when a Ford Explorer driven by Rodrigo Guardiola took off and allegedly attempted an illegal U-turn, Georgia State Patrol spokesman Capt. Mark Perry said.
The incident led to a chase that ended on Industrial Boulevard when the SUV crashed into a patrol car and the two men inside — Guardiola, 36, and Epitacio Gudino, 31 — got out and ran from authorities.
They were caught about a mile away, where Sgt. Auston Allen shot and killed Guardiola, allegedly for resisting being handcuffed, Perry said.
“As Sgt. Allen attempted to take Guardiola into custody, a physical altercation ensued and Guardiola attempted to submerge and hold Sgt. Allen under water,” Perry said. “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 died from injuries he sustained during the shooting, Perry said.
Shortly afterward, Gudino was arrested. He was later released on a $6,000 bond, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Allen was treated and released from Northeast Georgia Medical Center, and two other troopers injured in the incident are expected to be OK.
“I will say this, the troopers involved, I know them personally,” Perry said. “I know they have a strong faith in God and know that’s what’s going to take to get them through it.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting.
Copyright 2016 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution