A high-speed pursuit stretching from Blaine County to Lincoln County on Saturday, May 16, 2020, involving officers from seven law enforcement agencies ended in a felony arrest.
At approximately 6:36 p.m. a deputy from the Ketchum Police Division of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a silver 2006 Dodge Dakota on Main Street near Serenade Lane in Ketchum, Idaho for traveling 40 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. The driver, later identified as Jayson S. Mitchell, age 22 of Boise, Idaho, failed to yield and began accelerating to speeds from 80 - 100 MPH, running red lights and stop signs, passing over the double yellow line, and narrowly missing several head-on crashes and at least one pedestrian as he traveled south through the Wood River Valley.
The pursuit crossed several jurisdictions and involved additional officers from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, Hailey Police Department, Bellevue Marshall’s Office, Idaho State Police, Shoshone Police Department, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle eventually stopped after driving over a spike strip placed on Highway 75 at approximately milepost 78 near Johnny’s Country Store in Lincoln County. After impacting the spike strip, the vehicle later determined to be stolen, veered into the northbound lane of travel and off the roadway near Vortex Loop. The Dakota came to rest in a field approximately 75-100 feet east of the roadway.
Mitchell was charged with four counts of Felony Eluding a Police Officer, I.C. 49-1404, one count of Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, I.C. 49-228, and three misdemeanors, Injuring a Vehicle Without Owners Consent, I.C. 49-229, Reckless Driving, I.C, 49-1401, and Failure to Purchase a Driver’s License, I.C. 49-301. Mitchell is being held in the Blaine County Detention Center pending arraignment Monday afternoon. The vehicle was towed by advanced towing to be returned to its rightful owner.
Sheriff Steve Harkins commented, “This was a very dangerous situation and all the officers involved exercised sound judgment of when to discontinue and restart the pursuit for public safety. The officers from multiple jurisdictions worked together seamlessly to stop an individual who could have caused a serious crash.”
Sheriff Steve Harkins
Posted May 18, 2020, @ 1:50 pm
CONTACT: Holly Carter – Blaine County Sheriff’s Office (208) 788-5536 End.###