Case against chase suspect moves forward
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SANDPOINT — A Spokane man will see his case move forward after a Bonner County judge found probable cause for at least some of the charges connected to a high-speed chase Tuesday, according to First District Court records.
Jacob Gopal Cunningham, 44, is accused of 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. He faces multiple charges including eluding a peace officer, malicious injury to property, possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine.
Judge Lori Meulenberg found probable cause to hold Cunningham on possession of a controlled substance, introduction of a controlled substance into a correctional facility and an alcohol charge. However, she found probable cause did not exist for the other charges, either because an Idaho State Trooper's affidavit had not been signed or because the documents were incomplete. Those charges include eluding the police, grand theft, malicious injury to property, grand theft, and driving without privileges.
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Valerie Fenton told the court that a third probable cause document will be filed in connection to the other charges that addressed those issues, according to court documents.
Cunningham's bond was set at $100,000 and a preliminary hearing set for March 31.
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. Cunningham had previously had his license revoked on an eluding charge. That ban, which went into effect April 21, 2020, is scheduled to expire April 20.
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.
