Two men accused of firing shots into mobile home in Bannock County
Published at | Updated at
POCATELLO — Two men have been arrested in Bannock County after they allegedly fired two or three shots through the window of a mobile home.
William Wayne Cronon, 58, has been charged with one count of discharging a weapon at an occupied home.
Gavin Ray Scollard, 44, has been charged with one count of discharging a weapon at an occupied home, and one count of aggravated assault on certain personnel.
According to police records, in the early morning Sept. 2, police responded to the top of Trail Creek after getting reports of shots fired through the window of a mobile home that was occupied.
The victim had reportedly been in the mobile home when he heard someone outside ask, “Are you home?” and then two or three shots went through the window. After firing the shots, the suspects, later identified as Cronon and Scollard, left in a truck.
Multiple officers from the Pocatello Police Department and Idaho State Police responded.
Officers made contact with one vehicle that they determined was not the suspects’ before using a drone capable of seeing heat signatures to locate them.
While officers were waiting for more information from the drone, court documents allege three or four shots were fired by the suspects, prompting law enforcement to take cover behind their vehicles.
It is unclear in court documents whether the suspects were purposefully aiming at the police.
A short time later, the suspects allegedly fired approximately seven more rounds, according to court documents. Court documents say one additional round was fired, and an officer allegedly heard the bullet “whistle” directly above his head before hearing a “thud” behind him.
More time passed, and the drone operators notified law enforcement that one of the suspects was approaching the officers with a rifle. Officers reportedly identified themselves as law enforcement and ordered the man to drop the weapon several times as he approached. He allegedly shook his head no.
The suspect did eventually put the weapon on the ground and was ordered to put his hands in the air, documents state. He reportedly followed police commands to keep his hands up and was taken into custody.
Court documents allege that the second suspect was seen by drone operators still near the suspect vehicle and armed with what the drone operators thought was a rifle.
The South East Idaho Special Tactics and Response Team arrived on scene and took the second suspect into custody.
Court documents do not clarify whether Scollard or Cronon had been the first suspect to approach law enforcement.
After taking both into custody, law enforcement searched the area around the vehicle and found two firearms as well as ammunition.
If found guilty, Cronon may face up to 15 years in prison and be required to pay fines of up to $50,000.
Scollard, if found guilty, may be required to pay up to 20 years in prison and may be required to pay fines of up to $55,000.
Scollard and Cronon have both been appointed public defenders. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.
Both men are set to appear in court Sep. 15 for preliminary hearings.
Although Scollard and Cronon have been accused of crimes, that does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.