The suspect involved in the shootout and SWAT standoff at the EconoLodge on Broadway April 8 has been released from the hospital and now heads to his initial court appearance.
Robert Alan Flores Jr., 46, was charged with six felony counts including assault or battery upon certain personnel, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and misdemeanor first offense trespass.
Each assault charge comes with a maximum 10-year sentence and an enhancement penalty for the possession of a firearm which carries a 15-year punishment. If found guilty, Flores faces 25 years of potential punishment. Flores is being held on $1 million bond.
Flores was arrested on April 8, after Idaho Falls Police were dispatched to the EconoLodge where hotel staff requested help to trespass him from the property. Hotel staff told police that Flores refused to leave his hotel room after checkout.
Due to IFPD interacting with Flores, six officers attempted to make contact with Flores at his hotel room. After no response was given by Flores to officers, IFPD entered the hotel room and saw the bathroom door shut.
According to the probable cause affidavit, when an officer attempted to open the door, Flores fired one round through the door. Three officers backed out of the room and three others were stuck inside.
Flores allegedly stepped out of the bathroom and fired two more shots at the trapped officers.
Multiple officers fired back at Flores who retreated back into the bathroom. The trapped officers escaped the room through the hotel window.
IFPD evacuated hotel tenants, while SWAT was activated to aid in the arrest of Flores.
Flores was medically cleared from the hospital and taken to the Bonneville County Jail Wednesday. Flores sustained multiple injuries to the abdomen consistent with gunshot wounds during the incident.
Flores appeared at his first appearance on April 18 with Magistrate Judge Stephen Clark. First appearances are meant to notify a defendant of the charges and appoint counsel.
He is also scheduled to have his preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. May 1 with Magistrate Judge Wiley Dennert.
We welcome comments, however there are some guidelines:
Keep it Clean: Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexual language. Don't Threaten:
Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be
Truthful: Don't lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice: No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading. Be Proactive: Report abusive
posts and don’t engage with trolls. Share with Us:
Tell us your personal accounts and the history behind articles.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
We welcome comments, however there are some guidelines:
Keep it Clean: Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexual language. Don't Threaten: Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful: Don't lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice: No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading. Be Proactive: Report abusive posts and don’t engage with trolls. Share with Us: Tell us your personal accounts and the history behind articles.