A Missouri man’s alleged involvement in a hit-and-run that seriously injured a dump truck driver took another turn when police located him and attempted to make an arrest. Instead of surrendering, authorities say he fought with officers, grabbed one of their Tasers, and managed to shock both officers before being struck by another Taser himself.
According to the Cape Girardeau Police Department, 29-year-old Reynaldo Gozhileza-Gomez was arrested on October 13, 2026, following an investigation into a crash involving a worker along a northbound highway construction zone. The victim had exited a dump truck to remove remaining asphalt from its bed when a passing vehicle struck him, leaving him with serious injuries.
Investigators recovered pieces of the suspected vehicle at the crash scene, including a side mirror believed to have come from a black Hyundai. With assistance from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Department, officers located a heavily damaged Hyundai that helped them identify and track down the suspected driver.
However, finding Gozhileza-Gomez proved considerably easier than taking him into custody, according to the department’s account of the arrest. The confrontation ultimately left two officers with minor injuries and resulted in three felony charges against the suspect, who was held on a no-bond warrant.
Missing Side Mirror Helps Police Track Down Suspect After Serious Hit-And-Run
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The Cape Girardeau Police Department said officers responded to the 1200 block of Marquette at approximately 1:15 a.m. after receiving a report involving a motor vehicle crash. Investigators determined that a dump truck operator had been working near mile marker 102 in a northbound construction zone when another vehicle struck him after he exited the truck to clean asphalt from its bed.
Officers recovered vehicle debris from the scene, including a side mirror that appeared to belong to a black Hyundai, giving investigators an important lead. A Cape Girardeau County sheriff’s deputy subsequently located a black Hyundai at Rhodes in Fruitland with its side mirror missing and extensive damage along the driver’s side.
Police identified Gozhileza-Gomez as the suspected driver and determined that he had parked the Hyundai at Rhodes shortly after the collision before leaving with a passenger in another vehicle. Investigators then used the Flock camera system to locate that vehicle near the 3000 block of Themis, where officers spotted Gozhileza-Gomez inside a residence.
Suspect Accused of Disarming Officer and Shocking Two More
When officers approached the residence and contacted Gozhileza-Gomez at the front door, they instructed him to turn around, but police say he immediately began resisting. During the struggle, one officer attempted to use a Taser against him, only for Gozhileza-Gomez to grab the device, disarm the officer, and fire a cartridge that briefly shocked both responding officers.
A second officer deployed another Taser, striking Gozhileza-Gomez in the upper torso, although the confrontation continued for several more minutes before officers successfully handcuffed him. Both officers sustained minor cuts and abrasions, while the dump truck driver struck during the earlier collision required treatment for serious injuries.
Gozhileza-Gomez was transported to the Cape Girardeau Police Department and charged through the Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor’s Office with Class D felony disarming a peace officer, Class E felony leaving the scene of an accident, and Class E felony resisting arrest. Police confirmed that he was being held on a no-bond warrant, with the charges remaining accusations unless proven in court.