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Powell Police Chief Roy Eckerdt said the incident began around 5:23 a.m. Sunday with a report of a abandoned vehicle near the corner of Second and Bent streets.
While the officer was checking out the vehicle — and while a dispatcher learned it …
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Lovell man alleged to have stolen two vehicles, fired multiple shots
Powell police suspect a Lovell man committed a spree of crimes that included stealing two vehicles, firing shots into three others and leading officers on a high-speed chase early Sunday morning.
Israel Silva, 25, remained jailed and was awaiting formal charges Monday.
Powell Police Chief Roy Eckerdt said the incident began around 5:23 a.m. Sunday with a report of a abandoned vehicle near the corner of Second and Bent streets.
While the officer was checking out the vehicle — and while a dispatcher learned it had been stolen from Lovell — he heard shots to the west, Eckerdt said.
The officer found a man, alleged to be Silva, driving a Ford pickup on Avenue H and Division Street; nearby was another vehicle with a window that had been shot out, Eckerdt said. The officer tried stopping the stolen Ford, but it sped away, ultimately driving west down Avenue E/Lane 9 at speeds of more than 100 miles an hour, Eckerdt said.
The officer backed off as the speeds became unsafe, while the driver — alleged to be an intoxicated Silva — threw items from the window as he fled, Eckerdt said.
The Ford turned south onto Wyo. Highway 294 then turned onto Lane 9 and headed further west towards Heart Mountain, Eckerdt said. He said the chase ended when the truck became stuck in mud near Road 22.
Silva was arrested around 6 a.m.
Deputies with the Park County Sheriff’s Office spent part of Monday combing the ditches along Lane 9 for whatever Silva tossed, Eckerdt said.
“We don’t know for sure what all there is,” he said.
Police found no weapons with Silva.
“From an evidentiary perspective, the biggest concern right now is safety,” Eckerdt said Monday afternoon. “If we have a loaded firearm out there somewhere, we don’t want a child finding it.”
Eckerdt said police were still working to determine where all the shots had been fired, but he said bullets were believed to have entered three vehicles. No shots were fired at police, he said.
Silva was expected to make his first appearance in Park County’s Circuit Court today (Tuesday).
Eckerdt said police recommended charges that included aggravated (armed) burglary, reckless endangering and driving while under the influence, but ultimately it’s up to the Park County Attorney’s Office to determine the appropriate charges.
Israel Silva
