Man arrested after chase, jumping into lake
An Idaho State Police trooper chases a suspect on Highway 95 near Cocolalla Lake on Tuesday.
(Photo courtesy IDAHO STATE POLICE)
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A Spokane man was arrested in Bonner County Tuesday after leading police on a high-speed chase, abandoning the car and fleeing by foot, trying to hijack a vehicle and then jumping into Cocolalla Lake.
Jacob Gopal Cunningham, 44, faces multiple charges including eluding a peace officer, malicious injury to property, possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine.
According to the Idaho State Police, ISP dispatchers alerted troopers to citizen complaints about 4:15 p.m. of a reckless driver in a white 2004 Lexus forcing others off the road, passing on the right and into oncoming traffic on Highway 53 near Highway 41 in Rathdrum.
A trooper located the vehicle northbound on U.S. 95 traveling at least 20 miles above the speed limit of 55 mph.
“The trooper attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, but instead, the suspect accelerated at a high rate of speed and continued to drive recklessly, speeding and passing in no-passing zones,” a press release said. “The trooper pursued but lost the vehicle when it turned into a neighborhood.”
At 5:15 p.m., another trooper spotted the suspect vehicle at a gas station on U.S. 95 at Westmond Road, the release said. When the trooper approached, the suspect got back in the car, drove off, and hit the trooper's patrol vehicle. The trooper pursued the suspect south on U.S. 95.
“After a short distance, the suspect jumped out of the vehicle and ran and tried to enter a Jeep," the release said, but failed.
The trooper deployed his stun gun to try and stop the suspect, but it didn't work. The suspect then ran into Cocolalla Lake.
An ISP supervisor arrived, saw the suspect in neck-deep water, went into the water after him and brought the suspect to shore.
Other charges Cunningham faces include introduction of contraband into a correctional facility, possession of an open container, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting and obstructing a peace officer, driving without privileges, speeding, driving without insurance.
He also had two felony warrants from Washington state.
The Lexus he was driving had been reported stolen from Washington. Inside the stolen vehicle were two open bottles of alcohol and some construction tools also recently reported stolen,” the release said.
Troopers are hoping to find the driver of the Jeep Cunningham tried to carjack. Anyone with information is urged to contact the ISP Coeur d'Alene office at 208-209-8620.