SCSO navigates bomb threats and highway chases on Wednesday night

WALLACE –– It was a wild Wednesday night for local law enforcement, as deputies from the Kellogg Police Department and Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office engaged in a pursuit that took them from Kellogg to Osburn.  

This wasn’t the only source of drama that evening, as deputies with the SCSO had to respond to a bomb threat called into their own office.  

According to law enforcement, Billings Police Department reached out to the SCSO after they received a call from a 9-1-1 phone in Montana. The caller stated they had planted a bomb at the Wallace, Idaho, Sheriff’s Office. 

SCSO Cap. Seth Green explained that after receiving the call, deputies followed department procedure, which includes a full sweep of the building, and found no explosives.  

“As far as we know, we have no reason to believe the community is in any danger and there is no sign or reason to believe there is an explosive at the office,” Green said.  

Green also said that he will be working with law enforcement from Montana to see if they can determine who made the threat. This is the second time in two years that a false bomb threat has been called in against the SCSO – Both calls came from Montana.  

Meanwhile...  

Just after 11 p.m. in Kellogg, law enforcement was notified after a person reported that a woman had asked if they were looking to purchase drugs outside of a Kellogg business. After declining her offer, the person left and reported the interaction to law enforcement.  

According to police, as they responded, they saw a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle the soliciting female had been in, which fled the scene as law enforcement approached.  

This started a chase between law enforcement and the vehicle along eastbound Interstate 90 that included several attempted PIT maneuvers. A Precision Immobilization Technique, or PIT maneuver, is a technique used by law enforcement to force a fleeing vehicle to abruptly turn 180 degrees, causing the vehicle to stall and stop. 

Ultimately, law enforcement was able to spike the tires of the vehicle near Osburn and end the pursuit. 

Police arrested 31-year-old Sabelle Armijo, who has been charged with driving under the influence and felony attempting to elude an officer.  

Both Kellogg Police and SCSO deputies were involved in the pursuit.  

“We’re glad this ended successfully with no injuries to the suspect, law enforcement, or the community,” Green said.