Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Pursuit Ends in Arrest and Recovery of Stolen Vehicle

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE - generated by our News Release ListServer
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IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
Region 4 Patrol 218 West Yakima, Jerome, ID 83338-5904 (208) 324-6000
Fax (208) 324-7897
For further information, contact Capt. Robert Storm at (208) 324-6000 or (208) 736-3070

For Immediate Release: 12-21-2010 3:00pm


Contact: Sgt. Keith Thompson

On 12/20/2010, approximately 1900 hours, Idaho State Police was involved in a pursuit of a stolen vehicle driven by Joshua A. Sotomayor,18 years old from Clearfield, Utah. It started when a motorist complained about a car dragging its bumper on I-84 in Minidoka County. TPR James Kilton found the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle did not yield and increased its speed. When TPR Kilton called in the license plate to dispatch it was confirmed that this vehicle was stolen out of Utah. This pursuit continued through Minidoka and Lincoln Counties with multiple agencies involved (ISP, Heyburn P.D., Minidoka Sheriff's Department, and Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, with Jerome County Sheriff's Department on standby). ISP called off the pursuit on State Hwy 24, Lincoln County, when the danger to the public due to the pursuit outweighed the apprehension of Sotomayor.

Sotomayor hid off the roadway for a short time as multiple troopers and deputies attempted to find his vehicle. Sotomayor then headed back toward the city of Paul, Idaho. TPR James Kilton again found Sotomayor and followed him for a short time. When Sotomayor began to speed up, to speeds of 80mph, TPR Kilton turned on his emergency lights to see if he would stop. Sotomayor again failed to yield. Sotomayor was driving toward the City of Paul at high speeds and was not able to maintain his lane. ISP again ended the pursuit because the danger to the public due to the pursuit outweighed the apprehension of Sotomayor.

Minidoka County did have some spike strips set up in the City of Paul, but Sotomayor went around them. Minidoka County Sheriff's Department did apprehend Sotomayor on 775 N. 600 W. in Minidoka County at 2013 hours. Minidoka County Sheriff's Department took Sotomayor into custody for possession of a stolen vehicle and felony eluding a police officer.


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