TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The two suspects in the Saint Alphonsus shootings, Skylar Meade and Nicholas Umphenour, and a suspected accomplice, Tonia Huber, were arraigned in Twin Falls on Friday, Mar. 22 at 12:30 p.m.
During the arraignment with Judge Benjamin Harmer, Meade was charged with a warrant for felony escape, Umphenour was charged with three counts of aggravated battery on law enforcement officers, use of a firearm during a felony and aiding and abetting escape by a felon. Huber was charged with harboring a fugitive, eluding and possession.
During Meade's court appearance he said he had no questions, was told by the judge he has a warrant from Ada County for felony escape and his bail was set at $2 million. He will eventually be transferred to Ada County, no hearing date was set.
Umphenour was charged and his bond was set at $2 million. He will also be transferred to Ada County, no hearing date has been set.
Huber's bail was set at $500,000. The prosecuting attorney stated that she had been driving in excess of 100 miles an hour in residential areas during the day and when she was finally stopped by police she was carrying fentanyl. Her lawyer stated she worked in home health care and took care of her grandchildren. The judge then set her bail and said she would have pre-trial monitoring. Huber also had a previous warrant for failure to appear. Her preliminary hearing for her alleged involvement in harboring, eluding and possession is April 15 at 8:15 a.m. Her failure to appear court date is set for May 21 at 1:30 p.m.
As KTVB previously reported, at approximately 2 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20, Meade was transported by ambulance to Saint Alphonsus to receive medical treatment for self-inflicted wounds to his face and body, according to Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) Director Josh Tewalt. Two IDOC officers accompanied Meade in the ambulance with additional armed IDOC staff following behind.
After Meade was treated, IDOC staff were preparing to transport him back to the prison when an unknown suspect, later identified as Umphenour, fired gunshots at officers hitting two of them, BPD said.
Boise police officers responded to the hospital after the report of gunshots. One of the BPD officers who arrived fired a shot that ended up hitting an IDOC officer, according to police.
Three officers in total were injured. Officials said one officer is in critical but stable condition, another sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, and the third officer that was allegedly struck by a BPD officer received care for the non-life-threatening injuries.
The two suspects then fled.
"We believe that this was a coordinated attack, ambush on Department of Correction officers," Boise Police Department Chief Ron Winegar said of the escape. "Certainly a planned endeavor to free him from custody."
At approximately 2 p.m. Thursday, suspects Meade and alleged accomplice Umphenour were located and arrested in Twin Falls County following a short vehicle pursuit. Tonia Huber, 52, was also arrested on charges of eluding authorities and possession of a controlled substance. It is unclear what her connection is to the two men.
Additionally, Idaho State Police (ISP) said Meade and Umphenour are being investigated for potential involvement in two northern Idaho homicides, one in Clearwater County and one in Nez Perce County.
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