Idaho Falls man arrested after Bondurant area manhunt
Sublette County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Robert Richey, 51, of Idaho Falls after a high speed chase Saturday night.
Pinedale, Wyoming authorities were notified by the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Friday that Richey was wanted for the alleged sexual assault of a minor.
According to Sublette County deputies, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office pinged Richey’s cell phone to get GPS coordinates. The phone was located near a cell tower in the Boundurant area. Two Sublette deputies responded there and spotted Richey’s vehicle at the Branding Iron Grill at around 10 p.m. Friday.
Richey saw the deputy and sped off, initiating the high-speed pursuit. At around 10:10 p.m. Richey’s vehicle crashed near the entrance to Hoback Canyon. Officer said he jumped out of the vehicle and ran away while holding a hand gun.
Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers joined deputies in setting up a perimeter around the scene. Bondurant area residents were notified the suspect was in the area through an emergency alert phone system and asked to shelter in place until Richey was arrested.
Deputies used night vision equipment to locate Richey and trackers followed his footprints in the snow. They said Richey walked into the pullout at the mouth of Hoback Canyon and was arrested at around 1:40 a.m. Deputies said Richey was exposed to temperatures of between -12 and -16 degrees Farenheit for about 3 hours. He was transported to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson for treatment.
In addition to the Idaho warrant, Richey was charged as a fugitive from justice, driving under the influence, reckless driving, open container, attempting to elude a police officer and speeding.
