Bank robbery suspect arrested in Mountain Home after police chase

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho – A bank robbery suspect is in police custody following a chase on Interstate 84 in Mountain Home Tuesday.

Mountain Home police said the Chase Bank at 290 East 2nd North Street called 911 at around 9:15 a.m. to report that the bank had been robbed and the suspect had fled with cash and left behind an alleged explosive device.

Police said employees called 911 again on the way to the bank and saw the suspect in a vehicle traveling east on American Legion Boulevard. Officers stopped the vehicle near the 1600 block of the American Legion.

Authorities said the driver of the vehicle followed police orders and immediately got out and laid down on the ground. The bank robbery suspect was in the passenger seat, and they jumped behind the wheel and sped away. Law enforcement began pursuing the suspect eastbound on I-84.

During the chase, the suspect jumped the median at mile marker 117 and headed west on I-84 back toward Mountain Home. Police said at mile marker 104, officers deployed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) and stopped the vehicle on the right shoulder.

Mountain Home Police said the suspect was taken into custody without further warning and will be transported to the Elmore County Detention Center.

The Air Force's bomb disposal expert examined the backpack for the alleged explosive device and found several water bottles and items of clothing.

The original driver of the vehicle told officers he knew nothing about the robbery plan, according to Mountain Home police. The driver was initially released without charges.

Authorities said there are no known injuries in the incident, which is still under investigation.