Update: Suspect charged following July 11 2021 officer involved shooting

July 13, 2021

Suspect: Ezra Smith, 25, Boise

Charges: Assault or Battery Upon Certain Personnel (F), Fleeing or Attempting to Elude an Officer (F), Theft - Grand (F), Property-Malicious Injury to Property (F)

Following the pursuit and officer involved shooting Sunday night, suspect Ezra Smith has been charged with Assault or Battery Upon Certain Personnel (F), Fleeing or Attempting to Elude an Officer (F), Grand Theft (F), and Malicious Injury to Property (F). Officers served the arrest warrant this afternoon. Immediately following the critical incident, Smith was transported to the hospital and remains in stable condition.

The Ada County Critical Incident Task Force (CITF) led by the Meridian Police Department is continuing to investigate the officer-involved shooting on July 11, 2021.  The involved officers, D. Skube an 8-year-veteran police officer; and R. Denny an 8-year veteran police officer, are on paid administrative leave per department policy.

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Previously Released: July 11, 2021

Around 7 pm officers were responding to the 7000 block of Overland for a report of a possible DUI/reckless driver in a moving van. Citizens reported seeing damage on the vehicle indicating that it may have been involved in a collision. Upon further investigation, officers learned that the van was reported stolen. Officers located the driver and the moving van nearby and attempted to make a traffic stop. Officers reported that the suspect swerved toward their vehicles as he was leaving the area. Officers initiated a pursuit but due to the high rate of speed, reckless driving behavior, and potential danger to surrounding vehicles the pursuit was terminated. The suspect vehicle was later located driving on the 10000 block of Riley Ct. As officers attempted to stop the driver, officers broadcasted over their radios that the suspect rammed his vehicle into one of the patrol vehicles multiple times. As officers attempted to take the suspect into custody an officer involved shooting occurred. Officers began performing life-saving care before paramedics arrived. The suspect has been transported to the hospital. No officers were injured. The investigation is ongoing and the suspect will likely be facing multiple felony charges.

The Ada County Critical Incident Task Force (CITF) led by the Meridian Police Department has been activated to investigate the shooting.  Officers body camera video will be reviewed as part of the investigation. The information in this news release is considered preliminary pending the results of the CITF investigation.

Contact: Boise Police Media Relations

BPDMedialine@cityofboise.org

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