Cheyenne, Wyoming — In a late-night encounter on Friday, April 5, 26-year-old Yzail Gauna found himself entangled in a tense confrontation with law enforcement officers during a routine traffic stop. The stop, initiated for a minor violation, quickly escalated when officers discovered that Gauna had outstanding warrants for domestic battery and probation violation.

Body-worn camera footage captured the unfolding events as officers approached Gauna’s vehicle, which also carried three other adults and an infant in the back seat, unsecured by seatbelts. Initially, Gauna provided false identification, arousing suspicion among officers. When asked to exit the vehicle, Gauna became belligerent and uncooperative, escalating tensions.

As the situation intensified, Gauna reached into his pocket, revealing a knife. Despite repeated commands to stop, Gauna resisted and physically confronted the officer, even attempting to flee. In a startling turn of events, Gauna managed to seize the officer’s Taser, deploying it against him and inflicting injury.

Responding to the threat, officers resorted to employing force, delivering targeted baton strikes in an effort to subdue Gauna and prevent him from accessing his pocketknife. Despite the volatile situation, officers successfully detained Gauna, eventually taking him into custody.

Following medical evaluation, Gauna was booked into the Laramie County Jail on charges related to his outstanding warrants, alongside an additional felony count of aggravated assault on a peace officer.

The incident underscores the inherent risks faced by law enforcement officers during routine encounters and highlights the unpredictable nature of police work. As the investigation progresses, authorities are expected to conduct a thorough review of the events leading up to Gauna’s arrest, with a focus on ensuring accountability and transparency.