Idaho Falls man arrested for aggravated battery and burglary

A 55-year-old Idaho Falls man was arrested for aggravated battery and burglary Saturday.

Idaho Falls Police Officers responded to a residence in the 2200 N Yellowstone Hwy for a report of a physical disturbance.

When officers arrived, they contacted a male who appeared to have been in a physical altercation and was covered in blood. Officers called EMS to the scene where the victim was assessed but refused EMS transport.

The victim stated he had been asleep in his residence when a man came into his room and began hitting him with an object he described as a torch or lighter. After hitting him repeatedly, the suspect fled.

The victim identified his attacker as John Whalen.

Officers were able to determine a possible location for Whalen in the 1700 block of Grandview Dr. Officers performed a felony traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle as it was arriving at that address.

Whalen exited the vehicle at the direction of the officers who were able to clearly see that Whalen had blood on his clothing and all over his hands. A torch lighter matching the description given by the victim was in the vehicle in plain view and was also covered in blood. A passenger in the vehicle confirmed they had driven to the location of the incident and that Whalen had entered a residence there.

Whalen was arrested for aggravated battery and burglary and was taken to the Bonneville County Jail.