IDAHO FALLS — Newly released court documents reveal additional details about the man police were chasing before a car crash involving an Idaho State Police trooper.
Lucas Shane James, 40, is charged with felonies for eluding police, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a controlled substance.
According to police reports, the Idaho Falls Police Department and the Idaho State Police have been investigating James and his “associates” for drug trafficking.
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On May 3, an IFPD officer reportedly saw James driving a white 2018 Hyundai Tucson into an area near East 16th Street. They then saw James go into a nearby apartment.
Officers learned James has criminal cases for narcotics in Washington and two Idaho counties: Bonneville and Kootenai.
On May 5, officers learned that the Hyundai had recently traveled to New Mexico.
Officers spoke to a relative of James, who said he lives with a woman in Idaho. They stated that they were scared for the woman’s safety because James “relapsed on methamphetamine and behaved erratically and violently toward (the woman).”
According to court documents, officers learned that James’ probation officer had reported a disturbance between James and the woman, which was a violation of his parole.
A warrant was issued for James and served at his home on May 7. However, James was not found at the house. Officers did find 10 grams of methamphetamine and “user amounts of multiple other narcotics” as well as $1,800 cash between the occupants in the home, all in small bills.
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During the warrant, officers arrested another man, Joshua Davis, when they discovered he had a firearm and was a convicted felon. Davis also reportedly had a warrant for his arrest for multiple drug charges.
On May 9, officers listened to a jail call from Davis to James, where James reportedly indicated he was “1,000 miles away” and trying to travel back to Idaho Falls from an unknown location.
Officers tracked James’ location from his cell phone and informed Idaho State Police that he was returning to Idaho Falls.
Troopers found James as he was entering Bonneville County and tried to conduct a traffic stop, but James did not stop. He continued to run from the troopers through Idaho Falls.
According to a news release from ISP, a trooper collided with a civilian driver’s vehicle after multiple attempts to stop James with spike strips.
Both the trooper and the civilian driver had minor injuries. The trooper was treated and released on the scene, and the other driver, whose identity was not released, was evaluated at a local hospital.
Soon after, Bonneville County Dispatch received a call of a suspicious circumstance near East 17th Street. The caller said a car almost hit them on 17th Street, and then a man “ditched it in the alley and ran off.” IFPD and ISP responded and found the white Hyundai Tucson with James’ phone inside.
On Saturday evening, James was found at a home on the 1700 block of Burlwood Drive.
According to a news release from the Idaho Falls Police Department, police obtained a search warrant, and SWAT officers approached the house with an armored vehicle around 5:30 p.m.
The news release says James tried to run out a back door, but officers were waiting for him in the backyard and took him into custody.
When searching the home, police reportedly found drugs, drug paraphernalia, and firearms from the vehicle James was apparently driving. James was then booked into the Bonneville County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
He is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on May 23. If convicted, he could face up to 17 years in prison.
Though James has been charged with these crimes, this does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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