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FIRTH — A Bingham County deputy was hospitalized and bound for surgery Friday night after he was shot by a suspect in recent drive-by shootings and robberies in Bonneville County, authorities said.
The deputy's name and condition were not released, the Idaho State Journal reports. The suspect, Juan Santos-Quintero, 22, of Idaho Falls, was taken into custody following a standoff that also involved members of Special Weapons and Tactics teams from Bonneville and Bannock counties, said Sgt. Bryan Lovell of the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office.
Lovell said the deputy encountered the suspect at a Firth home, located in the vicinity of 700 North and 600 East. He was uncertain what tips led Bingham County deputies to the home, or if they encountered Santos-Quintero by chance.
Lovell said authorities established a perimeter around the residence where Santos-Quintero was holed up.
"There were some negotiations with him, and through those negotiations (police) were able to take him into custody," Lovell said, adding that investigators continued working the scene as of 10:30 p.m. Friday.
Lovell said the deputy was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Lovell's uncertain what type of firearm was involved in the shooting.
Lovell said Santos-Quintero was wanted in connection with a Thursday night armed robbery at an Idaho Falls Common Cents store.
Earlier Friday, Bonneville County issued a press release warning the public to be on the lookout for Santos-Quintero in connection with "recent robbery and shots-fired investigations," as well as active warrants. Police warned the public to consider him armed and dangerous and not to approach him.
"He was the only one (authorities) were dealing with at the (Firth) residence that I know of," Lovell said.
Lovell said Santos-Quintero is "one of the suspects" Bonneville County had also been seeking in connection with a robbery from before the Common Cents robbery.
"A lot of different officers have been looking for this guy," Lovell said. "The scene is safe, the area is safe, and the guy they were looking for is in custody."
Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland declined to comment, deferring to Lovell.
