SUPERIOR - The man accused of shooting at law enforcement in Idaho and then fleeing into Western Montana was captured in Haugan on Friday morning.
Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth says Jesse Robert Spitzer, 30, led law enforcement officials on a pursuit that entered Montana at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The Montana Highway Patrol was able to disable his vehicle near the Haugen exit where he threatened officers with a handgun then fled on foot, according to Sheriff Toth.
Law enforcement officials located and took Spitzer into custody shortly after 9 a.m. and there is no current threat to public safety.
“I would like to thank the quick and overwhelming response from Mineral County Sheriff’s Deputies, our law enforcement partners including the Montana Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshalls from Missoula, Montana and Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane County and Idaho and Washington states. This was a combined effort of many law enforcement agencies from multiple states to protect the citizens in Mineral County.” - Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth
The Shoshone County (ID) Sheriff's Office states in a social media post that at around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Kellogg (Idaho) police officers, Shoshone County deputies and U.S. Marshals "were involved with a stolen vehicle pursuit that was found in Kellogg being occupied by a wanted fugitive, Jesse R. Spitzer."
Spitzer fled onto I-90 eastbound where a deputy was able to deploy spike-strips near Osburn. He eventually exited the highway in Wallace and began firing several shots at law enforcement, according to the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office.
Spitzer then got out of his damaged vehicle and carjacked an occupied pickup at gunpoint on Bank Street in Wallace. He began to once again flee law enforcement and began firing a gun at Shoshone County deputies who were following him.
Meanwhile, in Washington State, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office states in a social media post that Spitzer is wanted for first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and possession of a stolen vehicle. He is also wanted for crime sprees in Chelan County and Post Falls, Idaho.
The incidents began on Friday when a SWAT team responded to an incident involving Spitzer, but law enforcement was unable to locate him. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office adds on Saturday, a K-9 team tracked Spitzer into the woods in Gold Bar before he escaped. was then involved in an incident in Chelan County on Sunday. Earlier this morning, Spitzer was identified as a suspect in a burglary in Post Falls, Idaho on Jan. 26 and fled from officers. Spitzer was armed with a gun during this incident.
The Post Falls Police Department says officers located Spitzer following the Wednesday incident and that he pulled a gun "and threatened to shoot himself if officers didn't leave." Officers chased Spitzer on foot through a subdivision but were unable to find him.
Spitzer was sentenced in 2011 for shooting at a deputy sheriff in Nevada, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.
- information from Melissa Rafferty and Mark Thorsell included in this report.
(third report: 10:15 a.m. - Jan. 28, 2022)
The man accused of shooting at law enforcement in Idaho and then fleeing into Western Montana on Thursday night has been captured.
Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth confirms 30-year-old Jesse Robert Spitzer has been taken into custody following an extensive search in the Haugan area.
Sheriff Toth says Spitzer was injured after being bit by a dog.
We will have more information as it becomes available.
(second update: 9:45 a.m. - Jan. 28, 2022)
Numerous agencies are searching for a man who is accused of shooting at Idaho law enforcement Thursday night in the Lookout Pass area.
Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth tells MTN News the suspect — identified as 30-year-old Jesse Robert Spitzer — shot at law enforcement in Idaho at around 10:30 p.m. Thursday. The officers were not injured.
Spitzer was pursued to Haugan. The suspect then eventually fled on foot. Numerous agencies are currently searching for Spitzer in the area of the 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar area off I-90.
Several law enforcement agencies from Idaho and Montana are involved in the search including the US Marshals Service, the Mineral County Sheriff's Office and the Missoula County Sheriff's Office.
We expect more information to be released later Friday.
- information from Melissa Rafferty
(first report: 8:17 a.m. - Jan. 28, 2022)
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is reporting there is a "critical incident" taking place on Interstate 90 in Mineral County.
MDT reports I-90 reports law enforcement activity on I-90 — between mile marker 18 and the Montana/Idaho border — and states that travelers should not pick up any hitchhikers and immediately report any suspicious activity.
Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth tells MTN News that residents in the area were notified of the incident early Friday morning and signs have been put up to alert motorists.
We will have additional information as it becomes available.
Critical Incident on I-90 at milepost 0.0 ... https://t.co/8PvQbtOjlX
— MDT Road Report (@mdtroadreport) January 28, 2022
