PROVO, Utah (ABC4 News) – Two people have been arrested in connection with violence at protest in Provo.

Provo City police said the incident occurred at a planned police rally and counter-protest Monday evening.

KSL reports a group calling itself Back to Blue had planned to drive around the Provo Police Department and honk their horns to show support for law enforcement. Another group called Marching for Racial Equality staged the counter-protest.

Police said both events coincided without incident until 8:38 p.m. when they began receiving reports of shots fire and a hit-and-run. A short time later, police learned about a shooting victim at Utah Valley Hospital.

Video footage provided by witnesses showed a white SUV driving south on University Avenue before pulling into the right turn lane to turn onto Center Street. A group of protesters began crowding around the SUV, and police said a male protestor ran to the passenger side of the vehicle, pointed a handgun at driver and shot one round through the window. The driver, who was struck by the bullet, hit the gas trying to leave the situation.

“The same protester ran after the vehicle and shot a second-round that went through the rear passenger window. The video then shows that the protester conceals the firearm and continues to protest,” according to the police statement.

Police said this same protester later approached another vehicle at 500 North and University Avenue striking and breaking the window with the handgun.

Jesse Taggart, 33, of Salt Lake City, was arrested in connection with the shooting Monday night. He was booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, rioting, threatening use of a weapon, criminal mischief, and firing a weapon near a highway.

Police also arrested Samantha Darling, 27, of Ogden City. She was booked into custody at the Utah County Jail on suspicion of obstruction of justice and rioting.

Provo Police Sgt. Nisha King told KSL.com that the man was not part of the protest or counterprotest that had been going on, but was just driving in the area. The victim, a 60-year-old Provo resident, remained hospitalized Tuesday but was “stable,” KSL.com reported.

POCATELLO — Two defendants facing federal charges in the January robbery of a US Bank in Pocatello have reached plea agreements.

Patrina Michelle Morris, 37, of Kent, Washington and Aaron Noble Hernandez, 25, of Ontario, California, were both indicted on federal charges including bank robbery. Both Morris and Hernandez have struck a deal with the local US Attorney’s Office.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to one of the charges he faced – possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He had been convicted of felonies in Calfornia and not allowed to have a gun. According to court documents, during the investigation of the robbery, police found a 9mm handgun which Hernandez claimed as his.

RELATED | Three federally indicted for Pocatello bank robbery

At sentencing, a federal judge could order Hernandez to spend up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 fine.

Morris pleaded guilty to felony bank robbery for taking approximately $4,621 in cash from the US Bank teller. At sentencing, a federal judge could order Morris to spent up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to court documents, detectives say Morris slid a note to a bank teller demanding money from the bank. She ran from the bank before police arrived.

RELATED | Documents detail how alleged bank robbers pulled off heist

Police released an intelligence bulletin regarding the robbery with photos of the suspects and vehicles involved. The following morning, employees at McDonald’s in Chubbuck called 911, saying a vehicle matching the description from the alert was in the parking lot. That is where police found Hernandez and another woman inside the restaurant.

When speaking with police, the woman said she overheard Hernandez say his girlfriend “Trina” and a man named “Trouble” were involved in the robbery, according to court documents.

A third suspect in the case, Jonathon Brewer, 26, of Pocatello is still facing the bank robbery charge and felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Court dockets do not list any upcoming hearings for Brewer.

Sentencings for Morris and Hernandez are scheduled for early this fall. They will be ordered to pay restitution for the heist.

(CNN) — Ghislaine Maxwell, the onetime girlfriend and alleged accomplice of accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday morning and charged by New York federal prosecutors with six counts in connection with an ongoing federal investigation into Epstein’s accomplices, according to court documents and a person familiar with the matter.

Maxwell is charged with enticement and conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transportation and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and two counts of perjury, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.

“In particular, from at least in or about 1994, up to an including at least in or about 1997, Maxwell assisted, facilitated, and contributed to Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to Maxwell and Epstein to be under the age of 18,” the indictment says.

Those victims, according to the indictment, included girls as young as 14 years old. Maxwell and multimillionaire Epstein are accused of luring them to an array of residences, including his Upper East Side mansion, his Palm Beach estate, and his sprawling Santa Fe ranch, along with her residence in London.

Maxwell was arrested without incident in New Hampshire and will make her initial appearance in court in New Hampshire, authorities said. An attorney for Maxwell, Jeffrey S. Pagliuca, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Maxwell, whose whereabouts have been unclear since Epstein’s arrest last summer, has been under investigation by the Manhattan US Attorney’s office for facilitating Epstein’s recruitment of young girls and women. She has been named in multiple lawsuits by women who said they have been abused by Epstein.

Prior to his jailhouse death by suicide while awaiting trial in August 2019, Epstein faced charges of having run a trafficking enterprise in which he paid hundreds of dollars in cash to girls as young as 14 to have sex with him at his Upper East Side home and his estate in Palm Beach, worked with employees and associates to lure the girls to his residences and paid some of his victims to recruit other girls for him to abuse.

In the wake of Epstein’s death, public pressure has mounted to hold those who assisted him — perhaps including Maxwell and a coterie of young women who allegedly worked under her — accountable not only for his actions, but also for their own roles.

In that investigation, Maxwell has remained a significant target. She has previously denied wrongdoing, and in a deposition has called at least one of her accusers “a liar.”

According to Thursday’s indictment, however, Maxwell was the principal recruiter for victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.

The indictment describes Maxwell’s relationship with three victims, identified only as Minor Victim-1, Minor Victim-2 and Minor Victim-3.

Maxwell, along with Epstein, is accused by prosecutors of luring the young girls into their circle, inquiring about their schools and families, taking them to the movies or shopping. After developing a rapport with them, she would allegedly steer the relationship into sexual territory, talking to them about sexual topics or undressing in front of them, followed by encouraging them to give Epstein’s massages, during which the girls were fully or partially nude, the indictment says.

Those massages, some of which Maxwell participated in, according to the indictment, sometimes developed into sexual encounters. In both the indictment of Maxwell and that of Epstein, federal prosecutors described the Epstein’s resulting abuse from these encounters, which allegedly included touching a girl’s genitals, using a sex toy on them or directing a girl to touch him while he masturbated.

The indictment alleges that Maxwell participated in “multiple group sexual encounters” with Minor Victim-1 in New York and Florida between 1994 and 1997, gave Minor Victim-2 an unsolicited massage in New Mexico in 1996 while the girl was topless and encouraged Minor Victim-3 to give massages to Epstein in London between 1994 and 1995, “knowing that Epstein intended to sexually abuse [her] during those massages.”

In charging Maxwell, however, federal prosecutors in New York may face a legal hurdle. In 2007, Epstein signed a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida that appeared to immunize his accomplices. The document says that “the United States also agrees that it will not institute any criminal charges against any potential co-conspirators of Epstein, including but not limited to” four alleged accomplices. Maxwell isn’t listed among them, but her lawyers may argue that she is covered by the phrase “but not limited to.”

When Epstein himself was indicted, New York federal prosecutors said they believed the Florida agreement didn’t restrict their office from prosecuting him, but his lawyers argued otherwise.

The perjury charges in the indictment stem from a 2016 deposition of Maxwell conducted as part of civil litigation. During that testimony, she denied having given anyone a massage, specifically denied having given Minor Victim-2 a massage and said, “I wasn’t aware that [Epstein] was having sexual activities with anyone when I was with him other than myself.

Asked whether Epstein had a “scheme to recruit underage girls for sexual massages,” she replied: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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ARCO — A Soda Springs woman who had sexual relations with a teenage boy pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Amanda Katherine Steele, 35, ultimately pleaded guilty to two felony counts of injury to a child. Originally, prosecutors charged Steele with three felony counts of child sexual battery committed by lewd conduct but amended the charges as part of a plea agreement.

Tuesday’s hearing is not the first time Steele tried to plead guilty to the amended charges. On June 16, Steele appeared before District Judge Darren Simpson, who said the amended charges did not fit the allegations of the crime.

The criminal complaint states Steele likely caused great bodily harm and willfully caused or permitted the 17-year-old boy to suffer unjustifiable mental suffering.

“You heard my concerns about the great bodily harm and mental suffering the last time we talked about this,” Simpson said Tuesday in the hearing over Zoom. “So I don’t know if there’s any evidence that you’ve been provided that would prove that. But you understand that by me accepting your guilty plea, you’re agreeing that you caused the child to suffer.”

Simpson said that although he did not accept the plea last time, after reviewing other cases, he determined courts in Idaho do not need to establish a factual basis on the crime to accept the plea. Because of this, Simpson allowed Steele to admit to causing great bodily harm to the 17-year-old, even if there isn’t evidence she caused the boy to suffer.

“I engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual under the age of 18 twice,” Steele said as her reason to plead guilty.

RELATED | Woman charged after teenagers skipped school and seminary to have sex with her, according to court documents

According to court documents, at least two teenage boys said they would skip school and Latter-day Saint seminary to have sex with Steele. At the time, Steele lived in Arco. In court Tuesday, she said at least one encounter happened at the 17-year-old’s home and another time at her house.

Although the victims considered the sexual conduct consensual, prosecutors charged Steele because under Idaho law, a minor who is 16 and 17 cannot consent to sex with adults five or more years older than them. Charges filed only cover one of the victims.

Despite allowing Steele to plead guilty, Simpson said he would determine whether to accept the plea agreement after reviewing a pre-sentence investigation and a psychosexual evaluation with a polygraph. Simpson said he did not feel comfortable deciding on the sentencing portion of the plea agreement without knowing all the facts.

The plea agreement stipulates Steele be given a sentence no longer than a retained jurisdiction or rider program, which is typically six months to one year. The agreement also clarifies that if a psychosexual evaluation shows Steele is a low risk to re-offend, then she is to be placed on probation with local jail time on the table. If given any of the jail time, it would be served on weekends when she does not have custody of her children.

If Simpson accepts the plea agreement, the document stipulates he follows those terms. If he denies the plea agreement, Steele would be allowed to revoke her guilty plea and take the case to trial.

If Simpson approves the plea agreement, Steele is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 8. Because Steele is not charged with a sex crime, she would not have to register as a sex offender.

The following is a news release from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

On July 2, at approximately 5 p.m., Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies in the Ammon Division responded to a robbery alarm at the Mountain America Credit Union on 25th East near Sunnyside Road. Upon arrival, deputies were advised that a single suspect entered the credit union and demanded money before fleeing.

During this time, an employee of the credit union suffered a medical emergency that was attended to by employees, arriving deputies and Idaho Falls Fire. That employee was transported to the hospital for treatment by ambulance.

Suspect and vehicle information was quickly put out to area law enforcement and a short while later, Idaho Falls Police officers located and detained the suspect at a residence near Merritt and East 16th Street in Idaho Falls. A perimeter was set around the residence and the area secured while more deputies and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to the scene.

Deputies are currently searching the residence and continuing to investigate. At this time, there is no known threat to the public or suspects at large and further information will be released tomorrow.

(CNN) — Fort Hood Pfc. Vanessa Guillen was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory room where she worked, an attorney for Guillen’s family said on Thursday.

Guillen’s body was transported from the military installation by her killer, attorney Natalie Khawam told CNN, citing details the family learned during a meeting with Army investigators on Wednesday night.

The main suspect in disappearance was identified by officials on Thursday as Spc. Aaron David Robinson.

Khawam said the family told her that Guillen had planned to file a harassment complaint against Robinson the day after she was killed, and that they believe Robinson became enraged when she told him that.

Fort Hood officials said they were not aware of reports of sexual harassment involving Robinson but the investigation was ongoing.

Robinson, 20, killed himself on Wednesday after police confronted him in Killeen, according to US Army Criminal Investigation Command, which calls itself CID. He fled Fort Hood late on Tuesday.

“While law enforcement agencies attempted to make contact with the suspect in Killeen, Texas, Specialist Robinson displayed a weapon and took his own life,” CID Senior Special Agent Damon Phelps said at a news conference on Thursday.

Robinson and Guillen, though co-workers, were located in different buildings; he was not in her line of command, Phelps said.

Robinson “was not in CID custody” at the time he fled the installation.

Phelps said investigators were looking into Robinson’s interactions with Guillen. He said there was “no credible information” Guillen had been sexually harassed or assaulted. He said investigators had conducted more than 300 interviews in the case.

Robinson, from Illinois, entered the Army in October 2017.

Khawam said investigators told the family that Robinson called a woman he was involved with to help him dispose of Guillen’s body after moving it outside the base.

Texas Rangers also arrested a civilian suspect in connection with Guillen’s disappearance, according to CID.

The suspect has been identified as Cecily Anne Aguilar, the estranged wife of a former soldier from Fort Hood. She is in Bell County Jail awaiting civilian authorities to press charges, CID said.

Guillen, 20, was last seen in the parking lot of her barracks at the Texas Army base on April 22, CID said.

Senior members of CID Command met with Guillen’s family on Wednesday, Phelps said.

Before Guillen went missing, she told her family that she was being sexually harassed by one of her sergeants at Fort Hood, according to a website her family set up to promote the search. The sergeant wasn’t identified.

Suspect confronted

Early Wednesday, US Marshals, Killeen police and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force located the soldier suspected in Guillen’s disappearance, CID said. He had left his Fort Hood post. The authorities confronted him walking along a commercial and residential thoroughfare on the northeast side of the city, a few miles from base.

“As officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect displayed a weapon and discharged it toward himself. The suspect succumbed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the Killeen Police Department said in a news release.

On Wednesday, Guillen’s sister Mayra said she had met the soldier suspected in the disappearance of her sister.

“When I first went up to that base, that subject, I met him, not knowing that he had something to do with it. I felt something was telling me that he did something, and I wasn’t wrong apparently,” Mayra Guillen said. “And apparently now, he kills himself. Why? I don’t know.”

“But whoever is responsible has to pay, and we demand a congressional investigation,” she added.

This came just hours after investigators discovered on Tuesday the partial remains of a body near the Leon River in rural Bell County, where Killeen is located.

While authorities have not confirmed it, Guillen’s family believes the remains belong to their missing loved one, they said at a news conference.

Phelps said the remains have not been positively identified. The investigation into Guillen’s disappearance is separate from another into her family’s claim that she was sexually harassed.

The remains were found in a shallow grave, and search operations were suspended, pending identification, said Tim Miller, the director and founder of Texas EquuSearch.

Due to her time in service, Guillen was promoted to specialist on Wednesday, according to the Fort Hood website.

Another soldier found dead

Authorities discovered the remains about 26 miles from the site where on June 19 investigators found the body of Pvt. 2nd Class Gregory Wedel-Morales, who went missing last year while driving in Killeen.

He was scheduled to be discharged within days of his disappearance, the Army said.

It’s unclear whether there’s a connection between Guillen and Wedel-Morales, but Army investigators say there is “no credible information” linking the cases.

Foul play is also suspected in Wedel-Morales’ death, and the Army is offering a $25,000 reward for information. The Army, League of United Latin American Citizens and Houston rapper Baby Bash have pooled together a $55,000 reward for information on Guillen’s disappearance.

After Guillen went missing in April, her car keys, room key, identification card and wallet were found in an armory room where she was working that day.

“Our hearts are broken. We feel pain, frustration and devastation. This shouldn’t have happened. We demand a congressional investigation. We demand the truth,” Khawam said in a statement.

“If this could happen to Vanessa, this can happen to any one of our sisters, daughters and mothers. There’s no reason why a young beautiful girl who joined the Army, to honorably serve our country, should be in a shallow grave near on our own turf.”

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AMMON — A man who had a medical emergency during a credit union robbery in Ammon on Thursday has died.

Jacob O’Haver, 33, was pronounced dead at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center after emergency responders were unable to revive him at Mountain America Credit Union or at the hospital, family members said. O’Haver is survived by his wife and four children.

The medical emergency happened at the end of the credit union robbery, although it’s not clear if the incidents are directly related, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan Lovell said. Family members say it was likely a cardiac arrest.

Multiple robbery alarms alerted authorities to an active robbery at Mountain America Credit Union on 25th E. in Ammon at around 5 p.m. Thursday. Shortly after, they got called from the same business about an employee suffering a medical emergency.

The alarms were tripped when a man, later identified as 31-year-old Matthew J. Stavert, entered the credit union and demanded money from one of the tellers. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash, Lovell said.

When emergency responders arrived, they worked to revive O’Haver, who had collapsed as the suspect left the building.

As this was happening, deputies worked with credit union staff to get a picture and description of the suspect and vehicle involved. They were able to determine his identity using his vehicle’s registration as well as an older booking photo, which matched the man in surveillance video.

Deputies also determined no weapons were shown during the robbery.

Shortly after, Idaho Falls Police officers and an Idaho State Police trooper found Stavert’s vehicle at a home on Merritt Drive near 16th Street in Idaho Falls. As officers approached, they stopped a separate vehicle leaving the house and detained two individuals down the street, who were later released after a brief investigation to determine if they were involved in this incident or other criminal activity, according to a news release.

Police secured the area around Merritt and East 16th Street in Idaho Falls on Thursday after Mountain America Credit Union in Ammon was robbed. | Courtesy Kaylee Shackelford

RELATED | Police search home, suspect in custody after credit union robbery

Another man, later identified as 22-year-old Kenlee M. McIntire of Idaho Falls, came out of the home and immediately ran when he saw officers. Authorities pursued and apprehended him a few blocks away. They found he was carrying a small amount of methamphetamine, the sheriff’s office said.

McIntire was arrested and booked into the Bonneville County Jail. In addition to felony and misdemeanor drug charges, he also had a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court.

During the apprehension of McIntire, police officers saw Stavert leave the house and tried to detain him. A brief standoff occurred, and SWAT was called to the scene.

Eventually, Stavert was arrested and booked into the Bonneville County Jail on felony robbery and burglary charges. Further charges may be forthcoming.

Click here to go to the GoFundMe that has been set up to help O’Haver’s family.

IDAHO FALLS — A Bonneville County man who stole a truck while intoxicated was sentenced to a rider this week,

Braxton D. Adams, 34, pleaded guilty to felony eluding police, felony malicious injury to property and a misdemeanor driving-under-the-influence charge. District Judge Joel E. Tingey sentenced the man to two to five years in prison. However, Tingey opted to retain jurisdiction in the case, meaning Adams will be sent to a rider program and could be released earlier than the judge’s sentence.

In the rider program, the judge orders the person to spend up to 365 days in the prison system in an intensive treatment program. When the inmate completes the program, the judge can then decide to send them back to prison or release them on probation.

RELATED | Man arrested in stolen pickup truck after driving through fences into fields

In November 2019, the Bonneville County Sherriff’s Office reported they found Adams in the area of 49th North and 5th East after driving a white Ford truck through a gate and into fields. When a deputy tried to stop Adams, he continued driving through the fields before becoming stuck in a ditch.

Adams then tried running away but gave up in a nearby canal. When speaking with deputies he admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol. He also admitted that he stole the pickup and drove it through various fences and gates. He caused more than $7,000 worth of property damage, according to police reports.

Once out of prison, Tingey ordered a 30-day suspension of Adams’ driver’s license and that he have an interlock device put on his car for one year.

POCATELLO — A judge sentenced the former chief compliance officer of now-defunct Yellowstone Partners on Wednesday.

Cameron High pleaded guilty to federal felony wire fraud and Chief U.S. District Judge David Nye ordered him to spend three years on probation. Federal prosecutors charged High and former Yellowstone Partners CEO Dave Hansen after discovering the company defrauded millions from clients between 2008 and 2016.

As part of probation, High will be placed on home confinement for the first six months and only authorized to go to work, church and any medical or mental health care appointments. Nye also ordered High to complete 300 hours of community service.

RELATED | Former Yellowstone Partners CEO sentenced to federal prison

Court documents indicate that as chief compliance officer, High knowingly devised and participated in the fraud with Hansen. The two reportedly submitted fraudulent billings to a third party.

During the scheme, Hansen personally submitted or was carbon-copied on at least 50 fraudulent overbilling requests of clients, resulting in a loss of $2,675,856, according to court documents.

At sentencing on June 17, Nye ordered Hansen to spend five years in federal prison.

The court will order Hansen and High to pay restitution once Nye determines the amount.

(CNN) — A cyclist assisted Atlanta police in the capture of a murder suspect by loaning an officer his bike for the chase.

On Tuesday, officers were canvassing an area in the city’s Old Fourth Ward where a fatal shooting occurred when they spotted the suspect, according to a news release from the Atlanta Police Department.

The man immediately fled the area on a bicycle and rode onto the BeltLine, a popular multi-use trail that runs through the city, the release said.

Stephen Willard told CNN he was bicycling to his home when he noticed the police chase.

“I’m riding home from work… and the next thing I see is APD officers jogging towards me,” Willard said. “The next thing I know one of the officers is waving his arms and flags me down and says, ‘Hey, man let me borrow your bike!’ ”

Willard got off his bike and handed it to the police officer.

Bodycam video the police posted online captures the officer pedaling down the BeltLine and onto busy city streets while keeping the suspect in sight. In the audio, he provides updates on the suspect’s location.

After a few minutes, the officer on the bicycle pulls up to Ponce City Market, a mixed-use development. Another officer is already taking the suspect into custody.

“We got him, we got him, we got him,” the bicycling officer says.

Meanwhile, Willard had called the precinct and let the police know where he was waiting. After 30 to 40 minutes, the officer returned with his bike.

“He was really excited about catching the guy, and he thanked me quite a bit,” Willard said. “I said, you guys are appreciated, even though the voices are loudly denouncing you, you are appreciated.”

Willard and the officer parted ways.

“It was pretty great, and it made me feel good, and everything worked out really well,” Willard said. “They caught the suspect and I got my bike back in one piece.”

Nicholas Fonsaca, 21, of Atlanta was arrested and charged with felony murder, according to the police. He is accused in the shooting death of a 37-year-old man on Sunday, the police said.

Fonsaca is being held at the Fulton County Jail and police told CNN that it is unknown if he has a lawyer at this time.

“We are proud of the work our investigators put into this case and proud of the efforts made by our officers in pursuing and apprehending this dangerous suspect,” Atlanta Police said in a statement.

“Additionally, we are grateful for the assistance of the cyclist in loaning us his bicycle. With help from the community, we can make the City of Atlanta safer.”

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POCATELLO — Pocatello Police have released dash camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that killed a 23-year-old man.

The footage, released Monday, comes from the incident on Feb. 25, when officers found Neal Stuart Nevada of Fort Hall wielding a knife. The video shows Nevada approaching quickly towards officers as the incident moves off-camera. Several gunshots are heard as those nearby cry out.

The incident began around 11 p.m. on the 400 block of East Dunn Street after a domestic violence 911 call.

RELATED | Authorities release name of man who Pocatello police fatally shot

“My daughter’s boyfriend is in here messing s— up in her bedroom,” the caller told dispatchers. “(Nevada is) trying to grab her and take her to the room and I told him not to touch her. I’m done.”

Armed with knives, Nevada reportedly left the home in a car. Officers found him in the area of South 2nd Avenue and Stansbury Street.

Video shows Nevada run away from an officer’s patrol car. When the officer stops and steps out, Nevada is seen charging with two large kitchen knives.

“Stop right there,” an officer is heard saying in the video.

Nevada continues to charge as approximately eight shots were fired from two officers’ guns. More officers rushed to the scene finding Nevada clinging to life.

“He’s still breathing,” an officer said.

Officers are seen placing cuffs onto Nevada as they roll him over to perform CPR. They continue chest compressions for several minutes, but Nevada eventually dies.

The East Idaho Critical Incident Taskforce investigated the incident. Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei provided a four-hour video released by the department. He said the task force interviewed witnesses and collected evidence before passing the cases onto the Twin Falls County Prosecutor.

The outside office then reviewed the case themselves and “found the officers justified in their actions.”

“Officers react to situations based off the information they have at that moment in times that are tense and rapidly evolving,” Schei said. “In this situation, the officers only had seconds to react.”

The Pocatello Police Department does not currently equip each officer with a body camera.

“This is why body camera footage is not available for all officers on the scene,” Schei said.

AMMON — The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is investigating several thefts and home burglaries in Ammon.

The burglaries happened in The Cottages subdivision off 21st Street on Friday, according to a sheriff’s office news release. Deputies say that during the night, a person took a bike from one home before leaving it at another, where a motorcycle parked in a garage was stolen.

“At another residence, items were moved out of the garage to nearby bushes and shrubs; however, the owner was able to recover them before the suspect could apparently return to retrieve them,” Bonneville County Sheriff’s spokesman Bryan Lovell said in the news release.

Investigators spoke with the homeowners and are gathering footage from home surveillance cameras. At the house were the bike was taken from a doorbell camera showed the suspect wearing jeans, a hoodie and a medical-type mask taking off with the bike.

The green, black and white Kawasaki KX450JFK motorcycle is still missing.

Courtesy Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies ask anyone who might have neighborhood camera video or pictures of the suspect or motorcycle to contact dispatch at (208) 529-1200.

Anyone with information about this case or any other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office through dispatch or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 208-522-1938, online at www.ifcrime.org, or through the P3Tips app available for your mobile device.

IDAHO FALLS — A local man is facing criminal charges after Tumblr, a microblogging and social media network, alerted authorities of child pornography use.

Brian Wayne Hillyard, 62, is facing five felony counts of possession of child pornography. According to the affidavit of probable cause, the investigation began when the social media platform notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

An Idaho Falls Police Department detective reported on Jan. 16, Hillyard admitted to police he had used his Tumblr account to view child pornography. Hillyard willingly turned his phone over to police at the Law Enforcement Building.

In the affidavit, detectives describe the dozens of disturbing images and videos involving children between the ages of 8 and 14 found on the phone.

Following their investigation, police arrested Hillyard on June 25 and booked him into the Bonneville County Jail. He remains behind bars on $100,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing for Hillyard is scheduled for July 10.

If convicted of all counts, Hillyard could be ordered to spend up to 50 years in prison.

BLACKFOOT — A Blackfoot man lost his ability to hunt and trap for years after pleading guilty to over a decade of hunting violations.

Gage Allen, 33, pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of various wildlife crimes dating back to 2007. On June 24, Magistrate Judge James Barrett suspended 300 days of jail time and placed Allen on four years of unsupervised probation, court records show.

Allen also lost his privilege to obtain a hunting license for nine years and a trapping license for 15 years. He will be required to complete 100 hours of community service.

As part of a plea agreement, Bingham County prosecutors dropped 25 additional charges related to poaching. He had also been initially charged with four felonies related to the illegal killing and selling of bobcats, but those were amended to misdemeanors.

Between 2007 and 2019, Idaho Department and Fish and Game officials say Allen illegally trapped and sold bobcats and illegally killed mule deer near Blackfoot. In a news release, Fish and Game reports Allen used illegal bait like pheasants to trap the bobcats and he would sell them for as much as $1,000.

“Allen admittedly knew what he was doing was wrong, but added that apparently the thrill of catching the cats and selling them for thousands of dollars led him to intentionally break the law,” investigators said according to the news release.

When speaking with investigators, Allen admitted to killing the three deer in 2007 after legal hours in a closed season and using another person’s tag after using his own.

Allen pleaded guilty to unlawful take of a bobcat, illegal use of game animals or game birds as bait, unlawful possession of unlawfully taken mule deer, trapping without a valid license and trapping within 30 feet of visible bait.

Barret also ordered Allen to pay $1,825 in court fees and fine

IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls man is behind bars after he allegedly made threats with a hammer because of a child molester.

Joseph “Joey” Lee Ray, 57, is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, Ray allegedly held a hammer over his head saying he planned to beat a child molester to death.

Police reports from June 27 indicate that Ray’s girlfriend told him a man molested a child’s family member. The statement reportedly made Ray upset and he began arguing with another man who lived with him.

The man told officers Ray then grabbed a large claw hammer and began making threats to his roommate. The victim stood up, told Ray to stop, and then Ray put the hammer down. Moments later, Ray reportedly said he wanted to beat the child molester to death. The man Ray believed to be a child molester did not live at the home.

An officer’s report says Ray had been drinking, although he denied it because it was too early in the morning and liquor stores were closed. Ray allegedly told police he did threaten the man with a hammer but did not intend to hurt him.

Ray remains in the Bonneville County Jail on $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.

If convicted of felony aggravated assault, a judge could order Ray to spend up to five years in prison.

IDAHO FALLS — A portion of Woodruff Avenue is closed after a road rage shooting early Friday morning.

The shooting happened around 4 a.m., according to Idaho Falls Police Department spokeswoman Jessica Clements. Police could not confirm if anyone is hurt or if anyone is in custody.

“This was an isolated incident between people that appear to have been known to each other,” Clements said. “We do not believe there is an ongoing danger to the general public at this time.”

Woodruff Avenue was closed between Lincoln Road and John Adams Parkway while investigators look into what happened. The road re-opened around 8 a.m. but police had a section near Stones Kia on Woodruff Avenue taped off. An older model sedan was towed from the area.

EastIdahoNews.com has a reporter on the scene and we will provide updates as we learn more.

MERIDIAN (Idaho Statesman) — Sara Walton Brady, 40, of Meridian, entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday during a virtual preliminary hearing.

Walton Brady is facing one misdemeanor charge of trespassing with failure to depart after she was arrested at Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park in Meridian in April during an argument with Meridian Police over her right to have children on the playground.

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According to a police press release, officers responded after several calls were made to dispatch. Officers then informed those gathered that the playground structure was closed and that they were welcome to utilize open areas of the park.

After the arrest of Walton Brady, police cordoned off the playground again with caution tape, signifying its closure. Video on Facebook showed some people taking that tape down as well.

On March 23, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Meridian closed city playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment, while allowing walking paths to remain open.

Walton Brady’s pre-trial conference is scheduled for Aug. 12.

IDAHO FALLS — Authorities say an Idaho Falls man became enraged and attacked a woman with a baseball bat before damaging property, then promptly forgot about the entire incident.

Jason David Plaizier, 39, was arrested Wednesday and charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony deadly weapon enhancement and two misdemeanor counts of malicious injury to property.

In interviews with police, the victim told officers that she and a male co-worker were inside a vehicle at an apartment. Plaizier allegedly pulled up behind them in a vehicle and got out with a metal bat. Court documents say Plaizier pointed at the victim, who he had had a previous relationship with, and told her to get out of the car.

Before the victim had time to react, Plaizier allegedly began hitting the car with the bat. The swings left the car with large dents, a damaged windshield and a shattered window. The man and woman quickly drove away before calling 911.

The victim said she thought Plaizier would kill her and showed officers several strange text messages of Plaizier threatening her.

While police were with the victim investigating the incident, Plaizier called the victim. In the probable cause affidavit, the officer writes Plaizier began yelling incoherently while talking about the Illuminati, the government, and the one-dollar bill. According to court documents, Plaizier said he would take the bat to the victim’s head.

“This is a full out attack on you,” Plaizier allegedly yelled.

During the call, Plaizier also mentioned he would go to the house of the man with the victim in the car. Police then began searching for Plaizier.

Hours later, the victim called 911 again to say Plaizier showed up at the man’s house and began swinging the bat again. While there, court documents indicate Plaizier shattered a window of the home and the back window of a van. By the time police arrived, Plaizier was gone.

Officers found Plaizier Wednesday night at his home, they also found a bat with glass embedded into it.

He was arrested. While in custody Plaizier said he did not use the bat to hit a car. He claimed to have been at a friend’s house the whole day. He told police he did not remember his actions or making the threatening phone call.

Plaizier appeared in court Thursday afternoon where Magistrate Judge Ryan Boyer set bail at $25,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 22.

If convicted of felony aggravated assault Plaizier could be ordered to spend up to five years in prison. The enhancement allows a judge to increase the sentence by 15 years.

SALT LAKE CITY (KSL.com) — Standing on a street stained with freshly coated red paint in front of the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office Thursday evening, protest leader Sofia Alcalá boldly claimed, “They are going to feel this one today.”

For weeks, peaceful protests — sometimes gatherings numbering in the dozens; sometimes the hundreds — have occurred on the steps of the DA’s office over the police killing of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal.

Those protesters wanted charges to come against the two officers who shot the 22-year-old. Palacios-Carbajal was shot as he ran away from cops; he dropped and picked up a gun multiple times during the pursuit.

On Thursday, District Attorney Sim Gill’s ruling came: The officers were justified in their actions.

For the protesters, no charges meant no peace.

While police officers monitored the situation from blocks away, protesters painted the street red to symbolize Palacios-Carbajal’s blood. Many dipped their hands in the paint and covered the walls and sign of the building with red handprints. Some painted messages on the steps and dozens of signs were left on the windows.

Following a peaceful march around a Salt Lake City block, the group of around 200 gathered again outside the District Attorney’s office. After messages were shared, including about how life would be for Palacios-Carbajal if the cops had “chose to use a taser,” some protesters took metal rods and smashed multiple windows of the building.

And with that, there was no more peace.

Salt Lake City police in riot gear formed lines on both sides of the protest about 8 p.m., and a police helicopter circled the group announcing it was now “an unlawful gathering.” While many of the sizable group dispersed at that time, a group of 50-100 stood shoulder to shoulder and faced down the police presence. With sirens shrieking and police car lights glowing, the group chanted, “We aren’t scared.”

The line of officers stormed the group using plastic shields to push the assembled protesters back. Some police swung clubs at protester’s legs, while others pointed nonlethal weapons at the ground in the crowd’s direction and fired. The protest group pushed back using a bicycle — which was taken and thrown to the side by the police — and threw water bottles, pieces of wood, and other debris toward the officers.

One officer went to the hospital for an unspecified reason, according to a tweet from police, and some protesters walked away limping. Two people were arrested, police tweeted about 9 p.m., but the reason was not given. In addition, a video posted on the Justice for Bernardo Facebook page about 11 p.m. shows police detaining someone who appears to be Alcalá and one other protester.

Just after 9 p.m., Utah Gov. Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency due to the civil unrest. The order restricts access to the Capitol, which was not targeted by protesters on Thursday but was defaced in a previous protest.

The order remains in effect until 11:59 p.m. on July 13.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown told KSL that Thursday’s protest “took a turn for the worse” after the windows were broken.

Brown said police wanted to provide an environment where protesters could exercise their First Amendment rights and were prepared to allow some vandalism. There appeared to be no action taken by police until the windows were broken.

At that point, Brown said there were safety concerns since police didn’t know if individuals would enter the building or cause further damage.

“This is a very volatile and dangerous situation,” Brown said. “It’s really sad it’s come to this.”

The protesters, many of whom brought black umbrellas to block television cameras from filming the events, refused interviews with KSL.com.

After the police warned on a bullhorn that violence against officers would be met with force, the crowd left the scene and walked south on State Street, coming to a stop just before 700 South. After a few minutes, they walked back to the District Attorney’s office.

Walking arm-in-arm, the group of 50-100 protesters chanted “justice for Bernardo” as they turned left on 600 South to avoid another confrontation with officers before turning right on Main Street. When they arrived back at the District Attorney’s office they were once again met with by a line of officers.

Protesters chanted “let us go home” and police allowed them to walk east past the red-coated streets in front of the District Attorney’s office shortly before 9 p.m. Some in the group were spotted handing out lawyers’ phone numbers to others. By about 9:40 p.m., the group had dispersed.

AMMON — An Ammon man who allegedly robbed a Mountain America Credit Union last week told the manager of a nearby restaurant that he intended to rob the bank.

At the time, the manager thought he was joking.

In court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, investigators say Matthew J. Stavert, 31, went into a nearby fast-food restaurant at about 4:40 p.m. on July 2. He had previously worked at the restaurant, and talked about his intentions just minutes before burglary alarms sounded at the nearby credit union on Hitt Road.

During the robbery, branch manager 33-year-old Jacob O’Haver died after suffering a medical emergency.

Bonneville County Sheriff deputies found out about the robbery at about 5 p.m., after multiple alarms were triggered throughout the credit union.

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A bank teller later told detectives Stavert walked into the bank carrying a McDonald’s bag. She reported Stavert told her to “fill the bag.” When she asked, “with what?” Stavert stood silent. The teller asked Stavert if he had an account. He responded yes, but it was frozen.

The teller messaged other employees that she believed Stavert was trying to rob her. O’Haver walked out of the office, asked what was wrong and Stavert then told him to “fill the bag,” court documents report.

The teller activated the alarm, pulled out $500, placed it on the counter, and Stavert put it into the brown sack.

As Stavert was leaving with the money, O’Haver fell and hit his head on a glass wall, which triggered a seizure, according to court documents.

Bank employees then called 911, and reported the medical emergency. When emergency responders arrived, they were unable to revive him.

RELATED | Credit union employee dies from medical emergency during robbery; suspect identified

Law enforcement quickly obtained photos of the suspect and his White Chevy Blazer from the bank. The vehicle was registered to Stavert, and deputies identified the man in the surveillance video as Stavert from a previous booking photo.

The restaurant manager also arrived at the scene to tell deputies about what she knew.

Shortly after, Idaho Falls Police officers and an Idaho State Police trooper found Stavert’s vehicle on Merritt Drive near 16th Street in Idaho Falls. Deputies found Stavert wearing the same clothes as captured in the surveillance footage, according to court documents.

He was arrested and booked into the Bonneville County Jail. He is charged with felony robbery and burglary.

He remains in jail on $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15.