Bingham Co. Stand-Off Suspect Sought Mental Help

The suspect in a Wednesday night high speed chase and police stand off in Bingham County is charged with aggravated assault, attempting to elude an officer, and attempted kidnapping.

On Sunday, he spoke out about the night he said changed his life.

According to police, 30-year-old Jeremy Andrus suffered a major mental break before leading cops on a chase.

“I wanted my kids, you know, to have the money that I had,” said Andrus. “I was just going to go and take my life.”

Andrus talked to reporter Caleb James from inside the Portneuf Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Center.

“I pulled my pistol from the side and I says, ‘I have a pistol, back off, I want to die,'” he said.

Andrus talked about the desperate moments he was sure would be his last.

“I had it to my throat the whole time,” Andrus said about the pistol he was holding. “I asked Britney, I said, ‘Get in my truck, I want to talk to you for a minute.'”

On Wednesday night at a Bingham County home in Rockford, Andrus said he held a gun to his own throat. He was desperate for one final conversation with his ex-wife, Britney. He wanted to give her money for their three kids, and to say goodbye before he took his own life.

“When I left, I got going down Tilden Road, a couple cops got behind me and flipped on their lights,” he said. “So I called dispatch.”

Andrus said he called dispatch for help. He told them he’d pull over if they put him on the phone with a counselor.

“They kept telling me no,” he said.

Andrus said he waited, and drove until his tires came off. Eventually, his truck started on fire. He said help from Bingham County Sheriff negotiator Randy Herbert made it easier in the end.

“That helped me a lot,” said Andrus.

Andrus said Wednesday night was a long time coming. He said he tried reaching out to his community, and couldn’t seem to get through.

“I just wanted to go, I just wanted to die,” he said. “I felt like I had nothing to live for in life anymore and I kept telling the doctors that, and I even called my bishop and talked to him about that and all anybody could do for me was say to, ‘build a bridge and get over it.'”

Andrus is getting help now. In the meantime, police have filed charges as Andrus continues treatment at Portneuf Medical Center.

Andrus’ mother, Sherry Andrus, reached our station by phone from Salt Lake City on Sunday.

She said her son was only interested in hurting himself on Wednesday night. He loves his kids, she said, and just wanted to say goodbye.