By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Police: Rape suspect allegedly impersonated undercover officer
Charge against previous suspect dropped
Dionicio Perez
Dionicio Perez

A Gainesville man is accused of impersonating an undercover law enforcement officer before allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a Gainesville motel, police said.

Dionicio Perez, 30, is charged with rape, first-degree burglary and impersonating a public officer stemming from an alleged incident Jan. 13 at the Motel 6 on Monroe Drive. He was booked Thursday in to the Hall County Jail, where he remains.

“In an effort to obtain entry into the motel room, he identified himself as an undercover law enforcement officer,” Gainesville Police Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said.

Holbrook said the department is unsure if any specific law enforcement agency was named.

In January, Gainesville Police identified another Gainesville man, Henry Joel Garcia, 22, as a suspect in the alleged sexual assault. Those charges have been dropped, Holbrook confirmed Tuesday.

Police investigators worked with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to obtain evidence for DNA testing. The results returned last week, Holbrook said.

“Through working with the GBI, we were able to get DNA results, which led us to Perez,” Holbrook said.