MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — A bank robbery suspect is in police custody following a high-speed chase on Interstate 84 in Mountain Home on Tuesday.
The Mountain Home Police Department said around 9:15 a.m., the Chase bank located at 290 East 2nd North Street called dispatch stating the bank had been robbed and the suspect made off with cash and left behind a claimed explosive device.
Police said that while officers were heading to the bank, employees called dispatch again, saying they saw the suspect in a vehicle driving east on American Legion Boulevard. Officers pulled the vehicle over near the 1600 block of American Legion.
Authorities said the driver of the vehicle followed police requests and immediately got out and laid on the floor. The bank robbery suspect was in the passenger seat, and they jumped behind the wheel and sped off. Law enforcement agencies began chasing the suspect going eastbound on I-84.
During the chase, the suspect jumped the median around mile marker 117 and began heading back into Mountain Home on westbound I-84. Police said at mile marker 104, officers used a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT), and the vehicle stopped on the right shoulder.
Mountain Home Police said the suspect was quickly taken into custody without further notice and will be taken to the Elmore County Detention Center.
The Air Force EOD examined the backpack for the claimed explosive device and found several water bottles and clothing.
The original driver of the vehicle told officers they didn't know anything about the robbery plan, according to Mountain Home Police. The driver was released without charges at this time.
Authorities said there are no known injuries due to the incident, which remains under investigation.