IDAHO FALLS — A wanted man is dead after taking his own life near the Idaho Falls Greenbelt Riverwalk Sunday evening.

The incident happened in front of the Best Western Driftwood Inn located at 575 River Parkway in Idaho Falls around 5 p.m.

Idaho Falls Police say they received a call from a non-local law enforcement agency about a person of interest, police spokeswoman Jessica Clements told EastIdahoNews.com. The agency said the man was in Idaho Falls.

Law enforcement searched for the man and located him near the hotel. As police were approaching to make contact with and arrest him, the man, who was parked on the street in a red vehicle, saw officers and took his life with a firearm, Clements said.

At this time, no further information about the man, or the incident has been released.

IFPD and Idaho State Police are processing the scene. The road directly in front of the Best Western remains blocked as of 7 p.m.

EastIdahoNews.com will update the story as more information becomes available.

IDAHO FALLS — After striking a plea deal with prosecutors, an Idaho Falls woman will pay a $100 fine for having more than two dogs at her home.

Initially, Idaho Falls City prosecutors charged 37-year-old Jeanette Diane Covert with three counts of animal cruelty, one count of operating a kennel without a license, one count of failure to obtain or maintain rabies vaccination and a dog license violation.

In a plea agreement obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, prosecutors dropped all charges except the misdemeanor operating a kennel without a license. An Idaho Falls city ordinance prohibits residents from having more than two dogs without a permit.

The plea agreement stipulated that Covert would not be given any jail time or probation. She would simply pay a $100 fine.

At a virtual sentencing Friday, Magistrate Judge Kent W. Gauchay ordered Covert to pay the fine along with $157.50 in court costs and $50 for the public defender.

On June 3, 2019, animal control officers with the Idaho Falls Police Department searched Covert’s home after receiving a call from someone claiming to have seen several dogs inside the house in “deplorable conditions with no food or water,” according to court documents.

RELATED | Mother, daughter charged after dogs are found in ‘deplorable’ conditions

The person told officers that in 2015, he pulled two badly decomposed dogs out of Covert’s house.

At that time, Covert was charged with allowing animals to go without care. Judge Stephen J. Clark placed her on two years of unsupervised probation and she was unable to own dogs for two years. Her probation ended in January 2018.

Animal control officers who entered the home in 2019 reported “the smell of urine and feces was horrific,” documents say. Inside the home, officers found some dog food and little to no water accessible to the animals. One dog reportedly had feces caked into his paws and back legs.

Officers also found a dog recently buried in the back yard with a collar still around its neck. A man came up to the house and told officers the puppy died after eating drywall and becoming sick.

Veterinarian exams of the dogs show at least one had a tense stomach from lack of food, according to court documents.

Covert’s daughter, Amber Fox, was also charged in the incident. She is expected to enter a plea agreement with prosecutors on July 30.

FORT HALL — An FBI agent arrested a man on Wednesday for stabbing another man on the Fort Hall reservation.

A grand jury indicted Lance Jonathon Broncho for federal felony assault causing serious injury. A federal indictment obtained by EastIdahoNews.com alleges that Broncho stabbed the man in the stomach on April 7.

Broncho pleaded not guilty at his initial appearance.

Details of the alleged stabbing remain unclear.

Broncho remains held in the Bannock County Jail awaiting a jury trial on Sept. 14 before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls man accused of threatening a person with a rifle last month appeared in court Friday.

Troy A. Terry, 47, is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Terry pointed his SKS rifle at a man trying to repossess a 2017 Kia Soul on June 28.

Idaho Falls Police officers arrived at First Street after reports of a man pointing a rifle at the repo man. When officers arrived, Terry said he was behind on payments for the Soul, but after working through bankruptcy court, the bank allowed him to keep the car.

As the repo man began hooking up the car, Terry said he grabbed an unloaded gun saying he would shoot the tires out of the tow truck.

The repo man told officers he began taking steps to repossess the car in February and records show the vehicle was behind 135 days on payments. The man said he’s been to the house at least 17 times and made several attempts to repossess the Soul. Many times, he reported the Terry family tried to stop him or another employee.

On June 28, the repo man said he saw the car sitting in an open garage so he backed up the tow truck and began securing the Soul to the truck. He reported the family tried closing the garage door and when that failed, Terry’s wife got into the driver’s seat and tried driving the Soul away.

“Troy then went back into the house and returned holding an SKS rifle,” an officer writes in his report.”(The repo man) told me that Troy pointed it at his chest, put his finger on the trigger, and said, ‘I’m going to F—– kill you.'”

Police located the gun as well as several loaded cartridges of ammunition and arrested him.

Terry posted $4,000 bond and is expected to enter a plea on July 27 at his district court arraignment.

RIGBY — The husband of a woman hit and killed by their neighbor in a May accident said he’s forgiven the man responsible during a sentencing hearing Tuesday morning.

Lincoln Lear, 46, will spend a year on probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Magistrate Judge Robert Crowley handed down the sentence after hearing the statement given by the victim’s husband. On May 6, Lear hit and killed 40-year-old Melissa C. Nielsen while she walked in their neighborhood on 136 North.

RELATED | Mother of four hit by car remembered for her selflessness, caring attitude

“It’s unfortunate this happened. I love my wife,” said Nielsen’s husband, Curtis Nielsen. “But if you do know Lincoln like I do, I know that he has no malice. He’s a gentle person. It’s a mistake many of us have made before and not had the same consequence.”

Lear left for work a little before 6 a.m. on May 6 as Melissa was on a morning walk. Lear described what happened next.

“I reached down to plug in my phone while I was driving. When I looked up, I hit and killed Melissa Nielsen,” he said.

Police reports indicate Lear immediately stopped after running over the mother of four children. He called 911, and despite life-saving efforts by first responders, Nielsen passed away.

“I don’t have any ill feelings towards him (Lear),” Nielsen said. “I forgave him and hugged him that morning of the accident … He’s paid enough for that moment of just being distracted. Even though it was tragic, there have been many blessings that have come because of it and I see those more and more as the time as gone on.”
Defense attorney Penny North-Shaul asked Crowly to give Lear a sentence of no jail time so he could continue to care for his wife and sons who have disabilities. She said Lear, the sole provider of the family, needs a driver’s license to run errands, take the family to appointments and drive to work in Idaho Falls. Nielsen supported the recommendation.

“What’s important at this time is he have all the time he can with his family,” he said. “I want him to be able to have what he can of a happy life and I know that for him mentally, that’s the biggest struggle. I know if I were in his shoes, I would struggle with that at this point.”

Lear expressed his remorse for having to bring the Nielsen family to the sentencing in relation to their wife and mother’s death.

RELATED | Vehicular manslaughter charge filed in death of Rigby woman

“Pay attention to your driving,” Lear said as his advice to the public.

Lear reached a plea agreement with prosecutors that recommended that he pay court cost, have no suspension of his driver’s license and spend a year on probation. Jefferson County Prosecutor Paul Butikofer said the plea agreement came as a result of speaking with the victims.

“I can’t even imagine how difficult this is for Mr. Lear and Mr. Nielsen,” Judge Crowley said. “No matter what I do, there’s suffering going on and there is nothing I can do to relieve that.”

Crowley paused for a moment before handing down the sentence and said he would follow the recommendations of the plea agreement by placing Lear on a year of probation with the first six months under supervision.

“The reason I’m doing that is I want to have available to you some additional tools,” Crowley said. “I’m not doing this by way of punishment.”

Crowley also granted Lear withheld judgment, meaning if Lear is successful on probation, the conviction could be removed from his criminal record.

“I appreciate your mercy,” Lear responded.

The following is a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Idaho.

KIMBERLY — Nathaniel Michael West, 23, of Kimberly, pleaded guilty to mailing threatening communications, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced Tuesday. West was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boise on Jan. 14. Sentencing is set for Oct. 7, before U.S. District Judge Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.

According to court records, West admitted that on Aug. 22, 2019, he knowingly sent a threatening letter through the United States Postal Service to a Twin Falls County Deputy Prosecutor. This prosecutor had previously prosecuted West for crimes he committed. West stated in the letter that he was going to get out of prison and kill the prosecutor and her family. West also threatened to kill a witness from a prior prosecution.

After the prosecutor received the letter, law enforcement officers interviewed West. During the interview, West confessed to sending the letter using the United States Postal Service. West claimed he sent it out of anger and that he wanted to scare the threatened parties. West sent the letter from an Idaho Department of Correction facility, where he is currently housed for other crimes.

The charge of mailing threatening communications is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

IDAHO FALLS — A crash at the intersection of 17th Street and Woodruff Avenue has traffic backed up in all directions.

The crash occurred at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, and involved two vehicles, according to Idaho Falls Police spokeswoman Jessica Clements.

It’s not clear what happened, but one of the vehicles was overturned in the intersection.

Despite appearances, there were only minor injuries, and no one was transported to the hospital.

EastIdahoNews.com will update this article as more details are released.

The following is a news release and mugshot from the Idaho Falls Police Department.

IDAHO FALLS — On July 12, shortly after 1 a.m., Idaho Falls Police officers responded to a residence in the 2000 block of 12th street for a report of a physical disturbance that had just occurred.

When officers arrived they found a woman with clearly visible injuries to her face, including a bloody and swollen jaw. When the woman opened her mouth, officers could see a clear break in her bottom jaw.

The woman was able to tell officers that she and Lambert Peterson had an argument about a phone when Peterson became upset. According to the victim, the argument turned physical and Peterson punched her multiple times in the face before she fell on the ground. When she fell on the ground, Peterson kicked her in the mouth, which she believed was when her jaw was broken.

Peterson and the victim then moved outside the residence where the verbal argument continued. Peterson then left the residence in a vehicle.

Idaho Falls Fire EMS responded and provided medical aid to the victim and transported her to an area hospital. Hospital staff confirmed the victim had sustained a broken jaw and would need to undergo surgery.

Idaho Falls Police Officers believed that Peterson may come back to the residence. Officers waited in the area for Peterson to return and after a short time, they witnessed the vehicle he had left in return and park in the parking lot.

Officers approached and stopped the vehicle. Peterson was located hiding under a blanket in the back seat and was taken into custody at that time.

Peterson told officers that the victim had struck him with a baton and brass knuckles. Officers observed that Peterson had scratches to his face consistent with defensive wounds, but no injuries consistent with brass knuckles or a baton.

Lambert Peterson, a 28-year-old New Mexico resident, was arrested for felony aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, resisting and obstructing and on an outstanding felony bench warrant from New Mexico for robbery.

IDAHO FALLS — A man was arrested on several charges Friday after police received a call from a concerned person that a prowler was in their neighborhood.

Gregory Harris was taken into custody on an outstanding Utah felony parole violation warrant, resisting and obstructing and providing false information to a police officer.

Officers responded to the 700 block of Northeast Bonneville Street where the caller said the man was “creeping around the yard with a flashlight and looking in windows of homes,” according to an Idaho Falls Police Department news release.

The first officer on scene noticed a side gate to a yard was open. Authorities say he heard rustling in the bushes at the neighbor’s home and yelled, “Idaho Falls Police.” A man then ran from the bushes.

“A brief foot pursuit ensued as the man attempted to evade the officer,” the news release says. “The Idaho Falls Police officer was able to overtake the suspect and a brief physical struggled ensued as the man attempted to get away.”

The officer was able to apprehend Harris and place him in handcuffs. Police say he originally lied about his identity.

Harris was arraigned Monday and is scheduled for his next court appearance on Aug. 6.

CHUBBUCK — A person is in custody after allegedly stealing a car and crashing Wednesday afternoon.

Chubbuck Police were called to the area of Yellowstone Avenue and Chubbuck Road around 12:10 p.m. after receiving a report that a vehicle had been stolen from Guardian Auto Sales. The driver of the vehicle was then involved in a crash nearby.

Before officers arrived, they say the suspect took off running. After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect was apprehended by police in the area of 210 Circle Inn.

Authorities say everyone involved in the crash was checked at the scene but no injuries were reported. The suspect has not been identified and charges are pending.

REXBURG — Lori Vallow Daybell is pleading not guilty to three misdemeanor charges and is asking a judge to lower her bond.

Daybell faces two felony charges in Fremont County of conspiracy to destroy, alter, or conceal evidence. She is also charged in Madison County with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. She was charged in Madison County with two counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, but those charges were dropped July 2.

Daybell’s children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, were found buried on the property of her new husband, Chad Daybell, in June. For months, the couple refused to tell authorities where the kids were.

Mark Means, Lori Daybell’s attorney, filed a motion Tuesday afternoon saying his client is pleading not guilty to the three misdemeanors and wants a jury trial. Means is also requesting a bond reduction hearing.

“Defendant asserts felony charges regarding previous bond setting were dismissed, and as such, bond should be reset to reflect current charges evident in the newly filed amended criminal complaint,” Means wrote.

Daybell is being held in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. In addition, bond is set at $1 million for her charges in Fremont County. Fremont does not have a women’s facility, so all female inmates from both jurisdictions are housed in Madison County.

Chad Daybell is in the Fremont County Jail on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and two counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS

Means also noted that because the felony charges were dropped, he and Lori Daybell request the right at a later time to ask for a change of venue regarding a trial.

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Lori Daybell in Madison County on July 17 before Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard. A preliminary hearing will then be held in Madison County on Aug. 10 and 11. Chad Daybell’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3 and 4.

POCATELLO — A Pocatello man is behind bars after he allegedly tried to meet up with a teenage girl for sex. Instead, the suspect encountered a grown man who confronted him with a camera.

The video was posted on Facebook by Idaho Against Child Predators and had over 36,000 views as of Wednesday afternoon.

Desmund Shae Borzumowski, 26, was arrested Tuesday night by Pocatello Police for felony enticing a child over the internet. The man who recorded the video asked not to be identified for safety reasons so we’ll call him Joseph. He spoke with EastIdahoNews.com about how it all went down.

“It happened extremely quickly. I had just been talking with some of my friends that weekend and we were watching Chris Hansen videos,” Joseph tells EastIdahoNews.com.

Hansen was an NBC News personality who hosted the extremely popular ‘To Catch a Predator’ television show where he would confront men who showed up at homes looking to have sexual encounters with young women and men.

Hansen’s videos gave Joseph an idea. He downloaded Whisper, an app that allows users to post anonymously within a geographical area. He posed as a 13 to 14-year-old girl to see if there would be any responses.

“I had 15 to 20 people messaging me within minutes,” Joseph said. “Within an hour, there was a guy saying he wanted to meet up.” (Read the text messages below)

In the video, the alleged conversation between Joseph, acting as a teenage girl, and Borzumowski unfolded. Within a few short messages, Borzimowski allegedly asked, “So you down for some fun?”

Borzimowski then allegedly explains he wants to have “public fun,” meaning sex in a public area with the chance of getting caught.

Joseph says he had no plans to meet up with anyone but set up a meeting with Borzumowski at Upper City Creek Trail in Pocatello. He arrived and found Borzumowski sitting under a tree in some brush.

“I pulled out my camera and started recording the confrontation,” he said. “He didn’t even acknowledge me. He pretended to be on a phone call.”

With the messages, video, description and license plate Borzumowski’s truck, Joseph went to the Pocatello Police Department.

“The citizen was acting on his own accord, without the knowledge of or the assistance of any law enforcement agencies,” the Pocatello Police Department said in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com. “The citizen provided this information to dispatch and initially, it was felt no crime had been committed since the 13-year-old victim was fictitious and the citizen was acting without authorization from any law enforcement agency.”

Frustrated by the response, Joseph posted the video on Facebook Tuesday. A Pocatello Police officer saw the footage and called Joseph in around 9 p.m.

“The situation was reviewed further by members of the police department and a case was initiated,” the police statement says. “The suspect was positively identified, interviewed and admitted that he thought he was meeting up with a juvenile female to have sexual relations.”

Borzumowski was arrested and booked into the Bannock County Jail where bail has not been set.

“The Pocatello Police Department readily admits that this situation should have been handled differently and would like to apologize for the initial delay in investigating this incident. As always, we continue to strive to improve the services we provide to our citizens,” the police statement says.

Joseph acknowledges he placed himself at risk and while he does not plan to confront other alleged predators, he hopes to continue spreading awareness.

“It’s scary. You just have to make (kids) aware of the dangers out there,” he said. “I had no idea it was to this extent.”

Warning: The video in this Facebook post contains profanity

The following is a news release from the Idaho Falls Police Department. Mugshots: Javier Corral, Jorge Venegas.

IDAHO FALLS — On July 13, shortly before 10 p.m., Idaho Falls Police Officers were patrolling in the area of Yellowstone Hwy and Broadway Avenue when they observed a vehicle with the rear license plate obstructed. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver and his passenger.

The driver provided his driver’s license and was identified as Javier Corral, a 20-year-old resident of Rigby. The passenger identified himself verbally as Luis Hernandez and stated that he had an Idaho issued ID but that he didn’t have it with him.

Officers and dispatchers conducted a search to verify the passenger’s identity but were unable to do so causing the Officers to believe he had reason to be dishonest.

Officers detained Corral and the passenger at that time and asked them each to exit the vehicle. One officer spoke with the passenger and asked if he had any guns or knives on his person. The passenger stated that he had a handgun on his waistband and consented to a search.

The officer removed the gun from the man’s waistband and placed it on the vehicle. The officer informed the passenger that he had been unable to confirm his identity as “Luis” and that the officer believed he may be lying. The man eventually admitted that his name was actually Jorge Venegas and that he had an outstanding arrest warrant.

At the same time, the other Idaho Falls Police officer asked the driver, Corral, for consent to search the vehicle. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and found a baggie of methamphetamine weighing 13.3 grams under the center console, a scale, a safe underneath the driver’s seat and a larger safe in the trunk of the vehicle.

IFPD officers requested that a Bonneville County K9 officer and his partner respond to their location to assist. The narcotics trained K9 conducted a free air sniff of the two safe’s and indicated the presence of narcotics inside the safes.

Officers opened the two safes. In the smaller safe Officers found another baggie of methamphetamine weighing 10.20 grams, a loose oxycodone pill, drug pipes, a second small scale, and other drug paraphernalia. Inside the larger safe Officers found two zip lock bags of marijuana weighing 3.446 ounces and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Officers spoke with both men and Venegas admitted that the methamphetamine under the center console was his. The other items were determined to belong to Corral. Jorge Venegas, a 20 year-old Idaho Falls resident, was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, providing false information to a police officer and the misdemeanor warrant and was taken to the Bonneville County Jail.

Javier Corral was arrested felony possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, felony possession of a controlled substance – oxycodone, felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver – marijuana, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and was taken to the Bonneville County Jail.

IDAHO FALLS — The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Idaho Falls man Thursday after they say he placed a hidden camera in a teenage girl’s room.

Jared James McDonald, 48, is charged with felony voyeurism. According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, McDonald told police he hid the camera in the 16-year-old’s bedroom in February but did not have any criminal intentions.

Deputies were notified of the incident after the girl discovered the camera hidden in a paper bag on her dresser. Deputies note the 153 videos recorded to an SD card did not capture the girl undressed at any point.

The girl and her mother confronted McDonald about the camera and he denied any involvement, according to court documents. McDonald did say he wanted the SD card found in the camera.

When deputies inspected the video files, court documents say they found two videos showing McDonald trying to hide the camera into a bathroom ceiling vent fan, giving a view of the shower.

On March 2, McDonald visited with deputies and said he just intended to listen to conversations the girl had.

“Jared also said he knows how this looks but ‘it wasn’t where his heart was,'” a deputy wrote in his report.

When asked about placing the camera in the vent, he told deputies he wanted to fix the fan and tried to see if the camera would fit. He also said he wanted to hear the girl’s conversations. After saying he did not like the way the camera looked, McDonald removed it, according to court documents.

McDonald declined to take a polygraph test and reportedly told deputies he would fail it because he was so nervous.

A warrant was issued for McDonald’s arrested in May. He was located and booked into the Bonneville County Jail.

At an initial appearance Thursday, Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard released McDonald to pre-trial services. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 29.

IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Police Department arrested a man Thursday after a woman says he attacked her with a hammer and tried to kill her.

Officers arrived at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center to investigate a domestic incident. According to police reports, Ivar Paul Havneros, 39, attacked the woman while she held a five-month-old baby in her arms.

The incident began with an angry Havneros lunging at the woman with scissors, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The victim tried placing the baby into a car seat to leave as Havneros allegedly shoved her to the ground and began choking her.

Court documents indicate Havneros then used a knife to threaten the victim as she held the baby.

The victim tried again to place the baby in the car seat, and Havneros knocked it onto its side with the baby inside. The baby started to cry and Havneros continued to allegedly threaten the victim with the knife.

The baby ended up back into the victim’s arms and Havneros grabbed a hammer. The victim reported being hit with the hammer while shielding the baby with her body.

“There are several marks on the baby and one is consistent with a drywall hammer,” police write in their report.

Havneros drove away from the house after the victim reported going outside and yelling for help. She had a black eye, bleeding lips, a bruise on her neck and a bruised and swollen eyebrow about the size of a golf ball, according to court documents.

Havneros was arrested and taken to the Bonneville County Jail. He’s charged with felony attempted strangulation, two felony counts of aggravated battery and two felony counts of aggravated assault. His bail is set at $100,000.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 31.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Police in Texas arrested the Montana mother missing for two weeks on Friday.

The Arlington Texas Police Department reports Shaila Thomas, 22, and Bryce Baltezar, 25 were arrested at a hotel after an officer spotted a stolen car. Authorities in Montana announced earlier this month they were looking for Thomas when she failed to show up at a family gathering on July 3.

Arlington Police spokesman Tim Ciesco tells EastIdahoNews.com the officer saw a blue Lexus G35 parked outside the hotel with a stolen Arizona license plate. After running a check on the car, it came back as stolen from California.

RELATED | Ex-boyfriend’s phone pings in east Idaho hours after Montana mom disappears

“The officer went inside the hotel in an attempt to locate the individuals who had driven the car to the hotel,” Ciesco says. “A short time later, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Baltezar walked out of the hotel and started to make their way toward the vehicle. The officer approached them and began speaking with them.”

Police arrested Thomas for felony charges of unauthorized use of a car and fraud, according to the Arlington Police Department. Police picked up Baltezar on a felony warrant for leaving Montana while on conditional release from prison.

They were booked into jail around 10 a.m. Friday and Baltezar was then transferred to the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, Texas.

Hours before their arrest, Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement reported Thomas had been located safe.

RELATED | Missing Montana mother found safe in Texas

Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Undersheriff George Skuletich previously told EastIdahoNews.com no one had heard from Thomas and a man discovered her broken phone in a Dillon, Montana garbage can. Authorities believed Thomas might have been with Baltezar and expressed concern over previous domestic violence incidents.

While police only listed Thomas as missing, both families expressed concern for their wellbeing and desire for them to return home. A few hours after Thomas disappeared, Baltezar’s phone pinged near Spencer, Idaho.

IDAHO FALLS — Police arrested an Idaho Falls man Wednesday on drug and weapon charges after they say he ran from officers.

A news release from Idaho Falls Police Department indicates an officer arrived at a home at the 300 block of 15th Street around 5 p.m. to speak with someone about a case. While walking up to the house, the officer spotted a man, later identified as Joshua Kelly, 37, leaning into a car parked in the driveway.

Kelly was acting suspicious, the officer reported. He ducked behind the house as the officer followed.

Another officer who arrived at the house then spotted Kelly running on Emerson. More officers responded to find Kelly and discovered why he ran.

Idaho Falls police report finding a backpack with a handgun sticking out near the car Kelly ran from. After running the serial number on the gun, police learned someone reported it stolen.

“This gave officers reason to continue searching for the man and to search the backpack,” the news release says. “Inside the backpack, officers found a second firearm that had also been reported stolen, a substantial amount of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, materials commonly used in drug packaging, cash, a scale, and a ledger. These are common indicators in the sale of narcotics.”

Officers found Kelly back at the house on 15th Street inside the car, prompting police to turn on lights and sirens. That’s when Kelly allegedly ran from police. Neighbors reported Kelly ran through backyards in the area.

Minutes later, another officer spotted Kelly and caught up to him. Kelly began fighting with the officer to no avail, according to police.

Court records indicate Kelly is charged with two felony counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. His bail is set at $50,000.

Police arrested Kelly on similar charges in January and is known to police. Kelly was charged in January with felony drug trafficking of heroin, felony possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

A $200,000 bench warrant had been issued for Kelly in June after he failed to show up to a hearing on that case.

A preliminary hearing for Kelly is scheduled for July 29.

The following is a news release from Idaho State Police. Photo: Ada County Sheriff’s Office

Idaho State Police arrested a Meridian woman on two felonies and multiple other charges after an incident that occurred on Interstate 84 Friday afternoon.

Korena M. Weymouth-Bell, 21, was arrested on charges of assault or battery on an officer, eluding a police officer, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without privileges and driving without insurance.

On Friday, at approximately 5:39 p.m., an Idaho State Trooper on patrol witnessed a vehicle driving erratically and failing to maintain its lane of travel on eastbound Interstate 84 in Nampa. The trooper attempted to make a traffic stop but the driver of the vehicle, a Suzuki SUV, failed to stop. The driver continued on eastbound I-84, exiting the interstate and stopping on the Meridian Road offramp.

The driver, later identified as Weymouth-Bell, got out of her vehicle and immediately extended her right arm pointing a small mace canister at the trooper and approached him in an aggressive manner as he was standing behind the cover of the driver’s door of his patrol car.

She then pushed the trooper’s car door closed. The trooper deployed his Taser before Weymouth-Bell could get back into her vehicle. The trooper called for paramedics to assist the suspect.

She was seen and released from a nearby hospital, then booked into the Ada County jail on the above charges. Neither the trooper nor any surrounding motorists were injured.

REXBURG — A Rexburg man who fled from a traffic stop and barricaded himself inside his home will spend time in jail.

Tyrell Fisher, 27, took off from deputies to his home in the Hibbard area on March 27. While there, Fisher ran inside and refused to come out. As part of a plea agreement, Fisher pleaded guilty to felony eluding and misdemeanor battery. On July 13, District Judge Steven Boyce ordered Fisher to spend at least 30 additional days in jail and spend four years on probation.

Initially, Fisher had been charged with felony second-degree kidnapping for dragging a woman out of the home against her will. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped the charge. Boyce also gave Fisher two and a half to five years in prison but suspended the sentence for jail time and probation. A one-year jail sentence on the misdemeanor charge was also suspended.

RELATED | Kidnapping and stop-and-go pursuit through Hibbard detailed in court documents

Court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com described the unusual police chase involving Fisher, the woman allegedly kidnapped and the brief stand-off. The incident began when Fisher’s father called 911, reporting he tried getting into the house while threatening the woman.

RELATED | Man arrested after barricading self in home faces felony charges

Fisher then led deputies on a chase and at different points, he slowed to five mph before stopping multiple times to speak with law enforcement.

In addition to his sentence, Boyce ordered a one-year suspension of Fisher’s driver’s license and ordered him to pay $1,403 in fees and fines.

ST. ANTHONY — The prosecutor in the Chad and Lori Daybell cases is asking a judge not to allow any video coverage of their upcoming preliminary hearings.

In a motion filed Friday, Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood asked Magistrate Judge Farrin Eddins to reconsider his order governing courtroom conduct and allowing cameras. On July 7, Eddins ruled that four members of the media can take photos and operate a pooled video camera to broadcast the hearing for the public.

“Allowing broadcasting/live—streaming of the preliminary hearing will make it more difficult to pick an un-biased jury in Fremont County,” Wood wrote in a memo to support his motion. “Picking a jury in this case will be difficult and time consuming due to the already existing media coverage.”

Wood acknowledges the defendants have rights to a public hearing and the public has rights when it comes to criminal cases. But he says when it comes time to pick a jury, extra time and effort will have to be made for jurors who have viewed the preliminary hearing.

“The motion is not for a closed or sealed hearing, but simply that the preliminary hearing in this case be treated the same as nearly every other preliminary hearing where there are no video cameras in the courtroom,” Wood wrote.

While Wood mentions he has no intention to make the hearing closed to the public, an Idaho Supreme Court order issued in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic limits who can attend court proceedings. Most hearings are not open to the public and are streamed over YouTube or Zoom.

EastIdahoNews.com and other local media outlets have covered high profile preliminary hearings with video cameras in the courtroom. Last year, a judge allowed local TV stations to bring cameras in for the preliminary of Brian L. Dripps, the man accused of killing and raping Angie Dodge. In 2015, EastIdahoNews.com recorded the preliminary hearing for Brian Mitchell, a man accused of murdering another man at an Idaho Falls park.

“The public and press constitutionally have a right to be there, but they have under American common law no right to see a live broadcast,” said Idaho State University Media Law Professor Zac Gershberg. “That is at the discretion of the judge.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many judges have allowed a conference call or video link for the public to watch court proceedings statewide. In previous Daybell hearings, Seventh District judges have allowed a live video stream.

“I think if they’re going to severely limit the number people present during Coronavirus, then constitutionally they should make the stream available,” Gershberg said. “If the judge agrees (with the motion) and locks out the courtroom and doesn’t provide the stream, then we’re talking about something that would likely go to the Supreme Court of the United States.”

The Daybells are facing felony charges in Fremont County after investigators discovered the remains of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home. Court dockets indicate Chad’s hearing will start on Aug. 3 and Lori’s will begin on Aug. 10.

Although the hearings will happen in person, courtroom attendance is still limited due to COVID-19. An order filed this month limits attendance to the judge, court staff, attorneys, assistance, defendants, witnesses, and family members of JJ and Tylee.

It’s unknown when Eddins will respond to the motion.