Man, teen in custody after ‘frenzied car chase’ in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS — A multiple vehicle police chase ended with a Bonneville County Sheriff’s SUV slamming a suspect’s vehicle against a fence at 400 West Sunnyside Road Tuesday afternoon.
Witnesses said about a dozen officers drew weapons on the vehicle as the suspect, Ramiro Meza Jr., 31, attempted to climb out the passenger window. Meza was immediately apprehended by police. An unnamed 17-year-old male also was apprehended at the scene.
Nate Sunderland / EastIdahoNews.com — Ramiro Meza Jr. was transported by ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Bonneville Sgt. Jeff Edwards, who was on-scene, reported the chase began approximately 15 minutes before the accident at 4:03 p.m. Meza, an Idaho Falls man, was wanted for a Idaho Department of Corrections warrant for probation violation.
“We had a gentleman with a felony parole warrant trying to jump out the window to go off running,” Edwards said. “He definitely wasn’t willing to stop even though his vehicle was stopped on the roadway.”
The pursuit began after a patrol unit attempted to stop Meza in a green Ford Expedition at Woodruff Ave. and First St. Meza took off and was pursued by sheriff deputies and Idaho Falls Police, Edwards said. He evaded authorities briefly before he was spotted again near South Holmes Ave. and Hartert Drive. Deputies deployed a spike strip. Meza attempted to avoid the strip, however it punctured his rear passenger tire.
The chase continued with the suspect turning onto Sunnyside Road traveling west. Several police vehicles pursued until the intersection of Sunnyside and Rollandet St. when Meza pulled a U-turn to avoid oncoming police vehicles. He traveled back east briefly on Sunnyside when he was struck by a sheriff’s office SUV.
Nate Sunderland / EastIdahoNews.com Reporter Nate Eaton interviews witnesses Tom Likes and Stephanie Ransom.
“Cars went flying by, the green SUV went to turn a corner, he spun out and a cop hit him,” witness Tom Likes said. “He almost hit two trees when the cop PIT maneuvered him and spun him into a (telephone) pole.”
The police SUV crushed the Expedition against a fence and telephone pole in front of Riverbend Communications at about 4:15 p.m.
“It was pretty scary,” witness Ashley Lahm said. “Watching a bunch of cops get out of their cars with guns drawn telling (the men) to get out of their cars.”
Both suspects were apprehended quickly.
After telling police he was not feeling well, Meza was taken from the scene by ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Edwards said.
The 17-year-old male was held by police until family members came to retrieve him. The deputy that crashed into Meza’s vehicle was not injured.
Edwards said Meza will face additional charges, including eluding an officer.