This article was written by Jacob Scholl and Ruth Brown of the Idaho Statesman.
Police arrested one person Monday afternoon after they reported hearing gunshots near a home in Meridian and a man refused to cooperate with officers.
Officers reported the gunshots at around 12:45 p.m. while approaching a home on North Amethyst Avenue, according to Stephany Galbreaith, public information officer for the Meridian Police Department. Officers were first dispatched to the home on a vandalism call.
Officers spoke with a party who stated that the suspect, Nathan Jenkins, 41, of Meridian, damaged the residence and that the party wanted to press charges.
“Officers heard loud banging that simulated the sound of a gun firing, and observed holes coming through the door that appeared to be consistent with gunfire,” according to a Meridian Police Department news release. “Officers evacuated the residence and the Ada County Metro SWAT Team responded to the scene. Ultimately, Jenkins came out of the residence and refused to follow officer’s commands.”
Meridian officers then used less-lethal use of force with a police K9 and beanbag gun to apprehend the suspect. Jenkins was arrested and transported to a local hospital, where he was treated.
Police later learned that Jenkins was using a hammer to hit furniture, doors and walls in the home, simulating the noise that officers initially believed to be gunshots.
Jenkins was booked into the Ada County Jail on suspicion of two counts of felony battery on a police officer, one count of suspected felony malicious injury to property, one count of suspected assault and one count of misdemeanor resisting or obstructing police.
