Wyoming man arrested on felony DUI charge in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS — A Wyoming man was arrested Wednesday evening on a felony DUI charge after allegedly following another individual home and causing a disturbance.
Thomas Elton Wylie, 69 of Alpine, Wyoming has been charged with one felony count of driving under the influence and two misdemeanor charges: unlawful entry and resisting arrest.
According to a release from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a residence Wednesday evening after the victim reported he was followed home by an unknown person, later identified as Wylie, who was now yelling in his driveway.
When deputies arrived, they allegedly found Wylie searching through the reporting party’s vehicle.
Deputies noted Wylie allegedly showed signs of intoxication, according to the release. When asked if he had been drinking, Wylie allegedly first denied drinking, but then later admitted to drinking beer earlier in the day.
Wylie allegedly told deputies that he was searching the victim’s vehicle because of something the victim had done earlier, but he was unable to describe what had happened.
The release states that the reporting party told deputies that while he was driving home, a vehicle later determined to have allegedly been driven by Wylie was following him very closely and at one point had driven into the oncoming lane.
Wylie allegedly followed the victim home, who was able to get themselves and their family safely inside their home. The victim called law enforcement for assistance.
According to the release, a neighbor of the victim told deputies that they had allegedly seen Wylie banging on the door of the residence while shouting threats. The neighbor also allegedly reported seeing Wylie kick the victim’s vehicle, causing damage.
According to the release, as deputies investigated, Wylie became “increasingly belligerent to the deputies.” Wylie refused to participate in a field sobriety test but was breathalyzed. He allegedly blew nearly twice the legal limit.
After being advised he was under arrest, Wylie allegedly challenged deputies to fight and made threats to kill them. He allegedly physically resisted and had to be placed in a “body wrap system” in order to be placed into the patrol vehicle.
According to the release, deputies search Wylie’s vehicle and found a partial bottle of vodka in the center console.
Available records do not list any attorney for Wylie.
Wylie is expected to appear in court Dec. 10 for pre-trial conference.
Although Wylie has been charged with these crimes, that does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.