SCSO searching for wanted felon

UPDATE 3/21/17: SCSO reports Bieluch has been apprehended by law enforcement after he was spotted by an off-duty deputy in Smelterville. The Shoshone News-Press will have follow up coverage of this arrest as more information comes out.

The North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force and the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) are searching for 50- year old Roy Bieluch, after he eluded deputies when they attempted to apprehend him.

On Friday, March 17, an SCSO deputy conducted a traffic stop in Smelterville on a Ford pick-up truck for fictitious license plates that belonged to a 2016 Jeep Patriot.

After identifying the driver as Bieluch and confirming that he had a felony warrant for his arrest, Baily requested a second unit to the scene.

Before the second deputy arrived though, Bieluch sped away from the traffic stop and instigated a pursuit though Smelterville reaching speeds up to 60 mph in 25 mph zones.

Bieluch managed to evade the deputy, losing a safe out of the back of his vehicle in the process (the safe was discovered to be empty).

Other units responded to the incident area and quickly began searching for the pick-up by patrolling Silver Valley Road and keeping an eye on one of his known hang-outs.

One of the responding deputies eventually located Bieluch’s vehicle parked in the area of Upper Page Road.

SCSO deputies and Kellogg Police Department (KPD) officers set up a perimeter at the bottom of the road to see if he would come down.

Bieluch never did come down the road and was last seen walking away from the pick-up wearing an orange reflective sweatshirt into the mountains in an unknown direction.

Described as a 5-foot-9, 200-pound white male with a bald head and blue eyes, Bieluch has an extensive criminal record including charges solely in Idaho for burglary, obstructing an officer, and drug possession.

Most notably though, Bieluch made headlines in February of 2015 when he escaped from the Shoshone County Jail and lead authorities on massive manhunt that ended after he was shot by a homeowner.

He is wanted for an outstanding felony warrant for violating the terms of his probation and is not eligible for bail.

SCSO is in the process of drawing up further felony charges for eluding an officer.

Though SCSO has no reason to believe that he is armed, anyone who believes that they see Bieluch are urged to use caution.

If you have information regarding his whereabouts, contact SCSO at (208) 556-1114 prompt 1, or call 911.