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On February 01, 2021, at about 8:45 pm, the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a traffic violator who was traveling at an excessive speed through the City of Soda Springs.  The vehicle failed to yield and attempted to outrun the pursuing law enforcement vehicles. The pursuit reached speeds of 100 plus mph along US30 towards Bannock County. The driver of the vehicle lost control of the vehicle and crashed at the intersection of Potter Rd and US 30 in Bannock County. Life flight was initially dispatched, but the driver was transported by ground ambulance to Portneuf Regional Medical Center and admitted.

Chandler Lippert, age 28, of Clayton, NC. was charged with felony eluding and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

This is the second attempt to elude sheriff’s deputies to have occurred in Caribou County in under two weeks.  Both times the drivers have been apprehended and face serious criminal charges.  Sheriff Adam Mabey would like to remind the motoring public that law enforcement agencies across the State are currently participating in an aggressive driver awareness campaign and are on the look out for aggressive drivers.  Aggressive driving is a contributing factor in half of all crashes in Idaho. According to preliminary data, aggressive driving was a factor in 78 fatal crashes in the state during 2020. 

For more information on aggressive driving, visit shift-idaho.org/aggressive-driving.

The pursuit was assisted by the Soda Springs Police Department.

On January 07, 2021, the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants in Soda Springs and Bancroft as part of a multi-month investigation into illegal drug distribution within Caribou County.

The investigation was initiated and supervised by Sergeant Kolby Call after the Sheriff’s Office had received complaints of suspicious activity by the suspect.  As a result of the investigation, a 17-year-old male juvenile was taken into custody and charged with multiple counts of delivering a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. 

The Soda Springs Police Department and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game assisted in executing the search warrants.   The Caribou County Sheriff’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy in regards to distributing illegal drugs to the youth and adults of Caribou County.  Anyone who has information regarding this investigation are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

                                                                       Together we can make a difference

On January 20, 2021, at about 8 pm, the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a traffic violator who failed to yield and attempted to outrun the pursuing law enforcement vehicles. The initial contact was made in the City of Soda Springs.   The pursuit reached speeds of approx. 130 mph along US30 towards Bannock County, with the suspect turning off his vehicle lights several times while approaching and passing other vehicles. The Idaho State Police assisted by deploying spikes to deflate the suspects tires at the McCammon interchange.  The suspect car was disabled and came to a stop on I-15 north of the McCammon interchange and two subjects were taken into custody.

Jonathan Hamilton, 37 of Colorado Springs, Colorado was charged with several felonies and misdemeanors, including aggravated assault, kidnaping, attempting to elude, possession of stolen property, no driver’s license and possession of a controlled substance.

Desirae Burns, age 33, who was the passenger, also from Colorado Springs, Colorado, was charged with possession of marijuana.

Hamilton told deputies he had recently been released from prison and didn’t have a driver’s license and decided to outrun the deputy.  Hamilton has an extensive criminal background. 

The pursuit was assisted by the Soda Springs Police Department, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho State Police.

                                                                    Together we can make a difference.