December 20, 2024
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE
Investigators from the Tri-County Sheriff’s Association and the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office have concluded their investigation and review of an in-custody death incident from October 31st, 2024 involving Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies. The incident began after 40-year-old James Ryan Roberts was involved in a crash in the Ammon Walmart parking lot with a storage container just after 11pm that evening.
Deputies on scene observed indications of impairment, discovering Mr. Roberts had been huffing compressed cans of air. The investigation revealed Roberts had purchased several cans of compressed air at the Ammon Walmart throughout the day.
Mr. Roberts was checked by ambulance personnel at the scene, followed by a Deputy transporting him to Idaho Falls Community Hospital for a medical clearance and a blood draw as part of a DUI investigation. While at the hospital, Roberts became unresponsive and medical aide was rendered by Deputies and Emergency Room Personnel. Despite efforts to revive him, Mr. Roberts died in the Emergency Room.
Review of this incident by the Bonneville County Prosecutor concluded actions by Deputies or personnel involved did not contribute to Mr. Roberts death and his passing appeared to be a result of his own actions.
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest sympathy to the Roberts family for their loss. We n our community can be found HERE.
READ: Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office – Roberts In Custody Death Review
______________________________
Original Release:
November 1st, 2024
NEWS RELEASE
Just after 11pm last night (Oct. 31st) Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies from the Ammon Division responded with Idaho Falls Fire to the Ammon Walmart parking lot for a vehicle crash with injuries. Upon arrival Deputies discovered the vehicle involved crashed into storage containers on the property and found the driver, an adult male, in the process of huffing compressed air canisters when they arrived.
The driver was checked by ambulance personnel on scene and subsequently detained for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence before being transported to the hospital by Deputies to obtain a blood sample and a jail medical clearance. While at the hospital, the man collapsed and Emergency Room Personnel began life saving measures but could not revive him.
Because the man was in custody and in the arrest process as part of the crash investigation, Bonneville County Sheriff Samuel Hulse requested assistance from the Tri-County Sheriff’s Association to investigate. Cooperative assistance from the Tri-County Sheriffs Association is common when there is a death of in-custody inmate or arrestee utilizing uninvolved neutral agencies for the investigation. The Bonneville County Coroner’s Office is also assisting with the investigation.
There were no other occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crash and no other persons were injured. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.
