Idaho Falls man leads police on chase through 2 counties

Update Feb 22, 2017 – 4:40 pm: The Bonneville County Sherrif’s office has released the name of a man who was arrested Wednesday afternoon and he led law enforcement on a chase across Jefferson and Bonneville County.

32-year-old Thomas A. Espinoza, of Idaho Falls, was arrested and booked into the Bonneville County Jail on a felony warrant, felony eluding and grand theft.

The Sheriff’s office says their deputies and Idaho Falls Police Officers had been searching for Espinoza for two days prior to Wednesday’s chase as he was linked to several vehicle thefts where he eluded officers and either crash or abandoned the stolen vehicles.

Wednesday morning Idaho Falls Police Officers took a report that Espinoza had stolen a White Ford Pickup that contained two firearms, as well as a false report of a body near the area the Ford was taken from. It was also reported that over the course of 2 days and nights he had been seen at several businesses and residences in Idaho Falls and Bonneville County acting strangely and possibly delusional. Espinoza also had a Felony warrant for his arrest relating to a previous drug conviction.

At approximately 12:50 this afternoon dispatch received a report that a male and vehicle matching the description of Espinoza and the stolen Ford was seen in the area of 175th East, east of the Ririe area, pulling in and out of driveways and acting strangely. Bonneville County Deputies and Idaho Falls Police Officers responded to the area and also notified the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho State Police. A short while later Jefferson County dispatch received a call in the area of 4400 E. and 300 N. of a male and vehicle matching Espinoza’s description again pulling in and out of driveways and acting suspiciously. Officers responded to that area where Espinoza was located driving the stolen Ford by a Jefferson County Deputy and an Idaho State Police Trooper.

Espinoza eluded officers at that time by driving through private property and fields before coming to the roads. Officers from multiple agencies pursued Espinoza as he turned back into Bonneville County. Bonneville County Deputies were able to deploy spike strips on the Blacktail Road just prior to the Bone road which were effective in deflating at least two tires on the vehicle. Espinoza continued on Lincoln Rd. where he lost control of the vehicle trying to turn onto Foothill Rd. Espinoza then fled on foot but was quickly apprehended and taken into custody.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office says there are still more charges pending against Espinoza.

Original Story: A suspected vehicle thief is in custody after he led multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase in a stolen truck.

The chase started in Jefferson County and ended in Bonneville County at Lincoln Road and Foothill Road. Multiple agencies were involved in the chase including Idaho State Police, Bonneville, Madison, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offices.

Officials told us the suspect stole four to five vehicles in the last 48 hours. The pickup he had been driven at the time of the chase was stolen this morning after he had been chased overnight in another vehicle. The owner of the pickup reported to deputies that the truck had guns in it at the time so ISP and the sheriff’s offices used extreme caution in the pursuit of the truck.

The chase started near Highway 48 in the Ririe area. Spike strips were used to stop the truck. After the truck crashed, the suspect got out of the vehicle and tried to run but was caught by officers.

One ISP vehicle was damaged in the pursuit.