ELMORE COUNTY -- A man was shot and killed in Elmore County Friday morning after police say he led deputies on a chase and threatened them with a knife.
The incident started at 8:49 a.m. when a resident called the Elmore County Sheriff's Office to report that a person in a white pickup was driving recklessly through his property. Elmore County Sheriff Mike Hollinshead says the suspect stole the truck from somewhere in Bliss, which is in neighboring Gooding County.
Deputies responded and found the pickup, and attempted to pull it over. Instead, officials say, the driver sped away, leading the deputies on a chase. Hollinshead says the suspect rammed into one of the deputy's cars, wrecking it and putting it out of commission.
During the pursuit, the man drove through fields and rough roads and eventually crashed the pick-up truck.
"He ended up wrecking on a side of a cattle guard and taking his vehicle out that way which he couldn't go any farther," Sheriff Hollinshead told KTVB. "And he got out and the deputy hollered at him and he turned aggressively at the deputy then turned away. Then there was a foot pursuit, he got into an area where he could go no farther and he turned around aggressively."
Deputies say he brandished a "very large military-style knife" which Sheriff Hollinshead says "is deadly force". The man threatened the deputies and one of the deputies fired his gun, shooting the victim four times and killing him, according to Hollinshead. The suspect died at the scene. His name has not yet been released.
None of the deputies were hurt.
Idaho State Police are leading the investigation. The deputies involved are on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.