2-year-old saved, meth arrest made after I-90 traffic stop

KELLOGG – An Idaho State Trooper has been credited with saving a 2-year-old’s life Tuesday following a traffic stop in Shoshone County.

ISP reports that on Dec. 11, a Trooper observed a Dodge van with North Dakota plates commit a traffic infraction on eastbound I-90 around milepost 46 near Pinehurst, Idaho.

The Trooper conducted a traffic stop and observed four individuals in the vehicle including a male driver (identified as 59-year old Jorge Gonzalez-Vergel), a 32-year old female, and two juveniles (ages 2 and 1).

During the stop, the Trooper noticed signs of physical trauma on the adult female’s face and signs of multiple injuries on the 2-year-old. Further investigation revealed methamphetamine, marijuana and paraphernalia in the vehicle as well.

Gonzalez-Vergel was immediately detained and the remaining occupants were taken to Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg by personnel from Shoshone County Fire District No. 2.

The 2-year-old was then transported to Sacred Heart Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Spokane, Washington with life-threatening injuries, including brain trauma. The child showed numerous visible marks and scars which are indications of severe abuse.

Doctors told ISP that the Trooper who stopped the van and looked beyond the traffic stop should be credited with saving the child’s life.

The 1-year-old juvenile is currently in the temporary custody of the State of Idaho.

The continued investigation into the physical abuse is being conducted by the Redmond, Washington Police Department.

At this time, Gonzalez-Vergel is not a suspect in the child abuse case, but he was arrested and booked into the Shoshone County Jail for felony Possession of a Firearm and Trafficking Methamphetamine.

ISP Captain John Kempf acknowledged the large role that the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare played in handling the situation.