Local woman charged after she allegedly tried to bribe officer with $100 during traffic stop
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IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls woman is facing nearly 15 years in prison after she allegedly tried to slip an officer $100 during a traffic stop.
According to the police booking affidavit, on Aug. 7, at around 11:30 p.m., an officer with the Idaho Falls Police Department was in the area of 1st Street and Meppen Drive when a vehicle was seen driving faster than the other cars.
The vehicle, a 2015 Honda Fit, was estimated by the officer to be traveling around 75 mph in a 35 mph zone, but according to the officer’s radar, the Honda was going 90 mph.
Turning on the patrol car’s emergency lights, the officer initiated a traffic stop of the Honda, which pulled onto Carol Avenue and stopped. It is estimated that the Honda pulled onto Carol Avenue going 44 mph and struck the curb.
The officer reported that smoke was visible from the tires and the smell of burning rubber was in the air.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Micah Praise McMurphy, was ordered out of the vehicle and began talking with the officer.
The officer questioned McMurphy about why she was going 90 mph and was told by McMurphy that she was driving at 60, which is still 25 mph over the posted speed limit. She was also asked why she was driving recklessly and answered that she wasn’t.
During this interaction with the officer, the documents state that McMurphy told the officer that she could flip them a hundred dollars to let her go.
When the officer asked whether she was trying to offer them a $100 bill, she said no, but that she could.
The document states the officer believed McMurphy was not making a joke of the interaction and that she reiterated that she was trying to give him money to let her go.
McMurphy was placed in handcuffs and booked into the Bonneville County Jail.
She faces a felony count of bribery of a municipal or county officer and a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving.
McMurphy has been appointed a public defender. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.
She is currently scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Wiley Dennert for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 21 at 1 p.m.
Though McMurphy has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean she committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.