Man facing charges after allegedly driving wrong direction, not stopping for police
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IDAHO FALLS — A 36-year-old Pocatello man is facing multiple charges after not stopping his vehicle for police, resisting arrest, and having drugs with him, according to court documents.
An affidavit of probable cause filed by the Idaho Falls Police Department says an officer saw a silver hatchback sedan fail to yield for the stop sign at 1st Street and Northgate Mile on Feb. 28. The driver also made an improper left-hand turn.
The officer activated overhead lights and attempted to stop the driver, later identified as Christopher Strength. Strength did not pull over, according to documents.
The officer turned on his siren to stop the vehicle, but Strength continued and turned, nearly hitting a curb. It appeared Strength lost control and started sliding towards a business.
The vehicle then started spinning its tires on the slick road.
The officer stopped pursuing Strength due to several factors including poor road conditions, documents said.
The officer saw the vehicle continue westbound on Constitution Way in the wrong lane. The vehicle ran through every intersection and failed to yield for three stop signs.
Strength then went against traffic on a one-way street on North Capital Avenue. When he could not make the turn, he collided into the curb by the Bonneville County Courthouse.
The officer activated overhead lights and went over to the suspect. Strength rolled up his window and locked the driver’s door, documents said. The officer deployed his baton and broke the window. The officer told Strength that if he continued to resist, a taser would be used.
Strength said he would comply and started to call someone on his phone.
The officer unlocked the door and ordered Strength to get out of the vehicle and get onto the ground with his hands behind his back. The officer said he would deploy his K9 if he did not comply.
Strength told the officer he was not able to stop his vehicle. He also stated something to the effect of him not knowing the officer was there, documents said.
Dispatch advised the officer that Strength had a suspended driver’s license and an outstanding warrant out of Bannock County.
The officer got his K9 and conducted an air sniff around Strength’s vehicle. The K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics from the vehicle near the rear hatch.
Methamphetamine was found, documents said.
Strength was charged with two felonies including possession of a controlled substance and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. He was additionally charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest.
He appeared in court on Tuesday and was given a $35,000 bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 14 at 1 p.m.