Man accused of forcing himself into woman’s home charged with stalking

POCATELLO — A local man who allegedly forced his way into a woman’s home has been charged with two felonies.

In addition to felony charges for burglary and first-degree stalking, David Jonathan Gunderson, 40, has also been charged with misdemeanors for intentionally destroying a phone and violating a no-contact order, according to court documents.

The Pocatello Police Department received a 911 call around 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 13 from a woman reporting that Gunderson had shoved his way through her blocked front door, an affidavit of probable cause shows. When officers arrived at the home, the victim told them Gunderson had already left.

The victim said she was asleep when Gunderson shoved his way through the front door of her home, which had been blocked with a couch at the time. She said that, once inside, Gunderson forced her to turn all the lights on in the home, then broke her cell phone, saying he did not want her to call anyone.

She said that she feared for her safety and fled to her neighbors’ home. The neighbors told officers they saw Gunderson at the woman’s home.

By the time the officer at the scene had interviewed the neighbors, other officers had stopped Gunderson walking on Yellowstone Avenue.

When police tried to interview Gunderson, he said he had been walking home when he was stopped by police. He allegedly told officers, “You can take your reasonable suspicion and roll it up and shove it up your a**.”

He was arrested and transported to Bannock Count Jail, where he is being held on a $50,000 bond.

This is the second time Gunderson has allegedly violated a no-contact order — the first coming on Jan. 19. He also faces a Jan.2 misdemeanor charge for battery without traumatic injury.

If he is found guilty of both felonies, Gunderson could face up to 15 years in prison and $60,000 in fines.

He is scheduled to appear in court before magistrate judge Tippi Jarman for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 28.