Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Idaho State Police Investigating Shooting Involving Elmore County Sheriff's Deputies on Eastbound I-84 This Morning

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
Teresa Baker
Public Information Officer
Headquarters
700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian 83642
(208) 884-7122
Fax (208) 884-7087

For Immediate Release: 8/2/16 at 5:30 p.m.

MERIDIAN - Idaho State Police detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred on eastbound I-84 Tuesday morning at approximately 10:00 a.m. involving deputies from the Elmore County Sheriff's Office.

The incident began at approximately 9:00 a.m. when Elmore County dispatch received a report of a stolen pickup truck in Hammett. The suspect in the theft, identified as Matthew David Conrad, 34 of Hammett, was believed to be the neighbor of the owner of the pickup and was known to police. Conrad was spotted by deputies west of Hammett and a pursuit ensued along the rural roads near Hammett. Deputies made several unsuccessful attempts to stop the pickup using a pursuit intervention technique or "PIT" maneuver. The vehicle was eventually stopped in a field north of the westbound lanes of I-84 near at milepost 110 after it went through a barbed wire fence toward the interstate.

Conrad fled from deputies on foot south across the westbound lanes of I-84 and into the eastbound lanes of traffic. Conrad then attempted to carjack a semi-truck at gunpoint and a red car driven by a female, but both drivers were able to flee the scene eastbound. Conrad then attempted to carjack a SUV and that driver was able to drive through the median and flee the scene westbound.

When Conrad was unsuccessful in the third carjacking attempt, he turned around and pointed a gun at sheriff's deputies. Two sheriff's deputies fired at Conrad and Conrad died at the scene.

The names of the two deputies involved in this incident have not yet been released. Those deputies have been placed on administrative leave as is agency policy.

Investigators were able to locate the driver of the semi-truck and the red car that were victims of the attempted carjackings this afternoon, but they are still interested in speaking to any other witnesses. If you witnessed any part of the series of events and have not yet spoken to police, please call the Idaho State Police District 3 Investigations at 208-884-7110.

The eastbound lanes of I-84 were blocked during the investigation from approximately 10:00 a.m. until 1:36 p.m. Traffic was diverted at exit 99 and allowed back on the interstate at exit 112.


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