Man who allegedly robbed Idaho Falls pharmacy for fentanyl was already wanted by police

IDAHO FALLS — Before a man allegedly robbed a pharmacy Friday, authorities were already looking for his SUV.

Around 1:30 p.m., local dispatch received a call of a suspicious man looking through yards on Fairmont Avenue for gas cans, according to a police report obtained by EastIdahoNews.com. When an Idaho Falls Police officer arrived around 2:20 p.m., a witness said the man asked for gas. When the witness told the man no, he said the police were after him, and he took off in a red Chevy Blazer.

Minutes later, IFPD were called to the Walgreens at the intersection of Holmes Avenue and 17th Street. Investigators determined Gary Holdaway, 51, of Rexburg, robbed the pharmacy and fled in his 1997 red Chevy Blazer, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

As police drove to Walgreens, Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies told them they were looking for a Blazer allegedly involved in a hit-and-run.

Detectives spoke with pharmacy staff, who said Holdaway came in demanding pure fentanyl. According to court documents, Holdaway said that if he did not get what he wanted, he would “start slitting throats.”

Walgreens staff then handed over a box of fentanyl and syringes. As Holdaway walked out of the pharmacy, he allegedly grabbed an unidentified drink from a refrigerator.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The drug is highly addictive and can lead to fatal overdoses.

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As police knew Holdaway lived in Rexburg, officers began searching Holmes Avenue because they expected he would drive toward U.S. Highway 20. Officers spotted the Blazer going between 50 and 60 mph near Idaho Falls High School.

They turned on their lights and sirens but lost sight of Holdaway, who allegedly ran several stop signs at high speeds.

Police kept looking for Holdaway. They got a call at 2:36 p.m. that the Blazer had crashed through a fence and into a power pole down an alley off Pine Street behind the homes on Water Avenue. Law enforcement swarmed the area, and neighbors pointed to an apartment on Water Avenue.

The woman who lived inside the apartment was also outside. She said she had let Holdaway spend a couple of days on her couch, but Holdaway had just barged in, shoved her outside and shut the door.

Authorities surrounded the apartment. Holdaway ran outside and was Tased by an Idaho State Police trooper. However, because Holdaway was wearing a thick jacket, the Taser failed to stun him.

Holdaway began running towards an officer with a K9. As the officer started to send in the dog, another police officer ran by and tackled Holdaway. The dog also bit Holdaway but was then pulled off as more officers joined in on the scuffle. Officers put Holdaway into handcuffs.

One IFPD officer sustained a shoulder injury and was taken to the hospital. Department spokeswoman Jessica Clements told EastIdahoNews.com on Friday that the officer is expected to be OK.

As police put Holdaway into the car, he said, “I was going to jump the counter to get it,” according to court documents. “I have never done something like that. I’m not a strong-armed robber.”

Police took Holdaway to the hospital. He required stitches in his ear because of the crash with the fence and power pole. Holdaway told them that while inside the apartment, he tried dissolving the fentanyl in hot water before injecting himself with the solution.

Holdaway is charged with felony robbery, misdemeanor fleeing and eluding, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and misdemeanor petty theft. A judge set his bail at $100,000.

In Madison County, Magistrate Judge David Hunt placed Holdaway on two years of probation on Nov. 2 from a May incident where he followed people in Rexburg in an attempt to sell marijuana. Police found the drugs and charged him with a felony, but Madison County prosecutors reduced the charges as part of a plea agreement, and Holdaway pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor drug charges.

However, on Friday, his probation was revoked. According to court documents, Holdaway told probation officers he had used methamphetamine just after Hunt sentenced him. Holdaway is then alleged to have failed several drug and alcohol tests in the following weeks.

Then on Thursday, police from Provo, Utah, called Idaho authorities saying Holdaway was facing possible criminal charges in Utah after a car crash. Probation officers could not reach Holdaway.

If convicted of robbery, Holdaway could be ordered to spend up to life in prison.

Although he is charged with crimes it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4.