Idaho Falls police have arrested a 30-year-old man who barricaded himself inside a residence at Sunnyside Acres mobile home park on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, following a month-long search that included a high-speed chase reaching speeds over 100 mph.
Gustavo Chavez was taken into custody after officers with the Idaho Falls Police Department and the United States Marshals Task Force served a search warrant at a home on West Elwood Drive. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for surrounding areas while working to resolve the standoff. Chavez was eventually arrested without further incident, according to Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson.
Chavez had been on Bonneville County’s most wanted list for a felony probation violation warrant stemming from an original charge of eluding police. He was booked into Bonneville County Jail with a $50,000 bond.
Jail Video Call Led to Chase
Court documents reveal that Chavez’s April 24 arrest attempt began when an Idaho Falls Police officer monitored a live video call between Chavez and an inmate. During the call, Chavez reportedly discussed plans to leave town, mentioning he was installing new tires on his gray Cadillac sedan and planned to use a hitch to pull a trailer.
The officer positioned himself at the end of Elswood Drive and waited. Minutes later, Chavez drove past in his Cadillac, wearing a black shirt, gold chain, and black hat — the same outfit visible in the jail video call. When Chavez stopped at the intersection of Elswood Drive and West Sunnyside Road, the officer called for backup units to box in the vehicle.
According to police reports, Chavez maneuvered between patrol cars and other traffic, running a stop sign while driving west in the eastbound lanes of West Sunnyside Road. He turned south onto Professional Way as officers pursued.
High-Speed Pursuit Through Two Counties
One officer attempted to position his patrol car alongside Chavez’s vehicle to perform a precision immobilization technique, but Chavez braked suddenly, causing the officer to rear-end the Cadillac instead. Both vehicles went off the road into a borrow pit near railroad tracks before returning to the roadway and continuing south.
A second officer took over the pursuit as Chavez continued south on South 15th West. Court documents indicate the chase reached speeds up to 113 mph. Chavez failed to stop at a stop sign at 65th South, and officers terminated the pursuit when he crossed into Bingham County at 1400 North.
Later that day, police found Chavez’s unoccupied Cadillac in Idaho Falls at Arctic Avenue and Atlantic Street. A K9 officer conducted a free-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the back passenger door area. Officers searching the car found mail, handwritten letters, and notebooks addressed to or written by Chavez.
Pattern of Evasion
Chavez has a documented history of evading law enforcement. In 2019, he was involved in two separate police-related incidents, including running from officers after being wanted and failing to return from work release.
Another individual was detained during Tuesday’s operation at Sunnyside Acres but is not believed to have been charged. The specific reason for U.S. Marshals’ involvement in the operation has not been disclosed.
What Comes Next
Chavez has not yet been appointed a public defender, according to court filings. If convicted on the eluding charge, he faces up to five years in prison and $50,000 in fines. The case remains under investigation by the Idaho Falls Police Department.
The shelter-in-place order issued during Tuesday’s standoff was lifted after Chavez was taken into custody. No injuries were reported during the operation at Sunnyside Acres or during the April 24 pursuit.