The incident began when officers were in the area of South Eagle Road and Overland Road, in Meridian on an unrelated call, according to Meridian Police Deputy Chief Tracy Basterrechea.
Officers were in a parking lot on the southwest corner of Eagle and Overland discussing the call, when they noticed a Dodge Durango with dark tinted windows parked in the same parking lot. “When the (driver) noticed the officers, (he) exited the parking lot. One of the officers ran the plate and found out the registered owner had a warrant for his arrest,” Basterrechea said.
Officers were cleared of the original call shortly after and they decided to look for the Durango.
“Officer Kyle Mikowski got on the freeway eastbound to see if he could find it. The officer drove to the Cole Road exit. Unable to locate the vehicle; he began driving back to Meridian, westbound on Overland Road,” Basterrechea explained. “The officer noticed the vehicle at Maple Grove Road. He turned around to initiate a traffic stop, but the (driver) quickly turned southbound on Maple Grove Road, in an attempt to avoid the officer.”
The vehicle then turned right onto South Mediterranean, stopping at South Crimson Rose Avenue, where the suspect -– later identified as Daniel Norris -- left the vehicle and went south on a walking path. Officer Mikowski then passed the Durango, leaving on S. Mediterranean and noticed Norris and the female at the end of the walking path, Basterrechea said.
“Officer Mikowski exited his vehicle. Norris dropped drug paraphernalia and began running from Officer Mikowski who, according to a witness, was giving commands to stop. The female then left, (heading) back towards Mediterranean. Mikowski chased Norris east and then north along a dirt path,” Basterrechea said.
The suspect cut through a yard of a home under construction.
According to witnesses, Mikowski told Norris he was going to be tased, then deployed his taser -– as Norris was in a yard in the 1900 block of South Cressida Place.
“Norris began to fall forward on his face, and drew a 9mm handgun -- firing at Officer Mikowski,” Basterrechea stated. “Officer Mikowski drew his weapon and began firing back. Officer Mikowski received two wounds to his lower legs and continued returning fire -- killing Norris.”
At this point, a civilian witness began helping provide aid to the officer, while another witness called dispatch to provide a both location and information the officer had been injured. “Officer Mikowski rendered self-aid and applied a tourniquet on one of his legs. An Ada County sergeant arrived on scene and applied a tourniquet to the other leg,” stated Basterrechea.
A Boise Police Department officer arrived on the scene and began administering lifesaving measures on Norris, who died at the scene.
“The Meridian Police Department would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the civilians who assisted Officer Mikowski and to the Ada County sergeant who applied the tourniquet; without their assistance this could have turned out much different,” Basterrechea said.
Another male who was in the Durago at the time later turned himself in to authorities. “The male is being treated as witness, so his name won’t be released,” stated Basterrechea.
The female remains at large.
Mikowski was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and released. He is currently recuperating at home.
Following procedure, the Ada County Critical Incident Task Force is investigating the shooting.
