Man in Bone area incident arrested after short foot pursuit

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the area of the Bone Store to investigate a disturbance Sunday just after 11 p.m.

Deputies were advised four males exchanged words on a snowmobile trail over a vehicle stuck in the snow past the road closed sign.

During this confrontation, it was reported at least one of the males was armed and may have fired a shot toward them as they were leaving.

As deputies responded to the area, one passed a vehicle matching the suspect’s description and was able to turn around and initiate a traffic stop on it.

A male adult, later identified as 36-year-old Michael R. Whitman of Idaho Falls, fled on foot from the passenger side of the vehicle leaving behind a firearm and evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

The deputy was able to detain the driver while others search for Whitman. Deputies also found Whitman was currently wanted for a felony probation violation warrant out of Bingham County.

An Alertsense phone warning was also sent to area residents from dispatch advising the wanted subject may be hiding on property in the area.

On Monday, deputies were made aware a male matching the description of Whitman was picked up on Bone Road in the morning hours and given a ride back to the Ammon area.

Deputies continued to search the Ammon area and the last known address for Whitman in Mobile Home Estates.

During this time, a deputy located a male riding a bicycle matching Whitman’s description near 1st St. and Adam Dr.

The male gave a false name to the deputy but then fled on foot for a short distance before being caught and taken into custody.

The male was confirmed to be Michael Whitman and was found to have stolen the bicycle from an unknown victim to ride back toward his residence.

Whitman was transported to the Bonneville County Jail where he was booked on the felony Bingham County warrant as well as new misdemeanor charges of resisting and obstructing and providing false information to a police officer.

Deputies are continuing to investigate the incident from the night before, and any further charges are still pending at this time.