Man shot by Kuna police in August is identified, attends court hearing from hospital

A man shot by Kuna deputies in August after multiple car chases was arraigned Friday afternoon on charges of robbery, grand theft, fleeing an officer and domestic violence. He attended the hearing via video from a hospital, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office said.

The man, Jeremiah Bainbridge, was hospitalized in critical condition right after being shot, according to previous Statesman reporting. His hospitalization delayed the criminal justice case, the arraignment hearing revealed.

The prosecution asked for a $2 million bond, arguing that Bainbridge was a flight risk with limited ties to the area and is known to have access to weapons.

“He poses a significant risk to the community,” James Vogt said in court for the prosecution.

Judge Kira Dale set bond at $1 million, with several release conditions, including a no-contact order, an order to not possess firearms and a GPS unit to monitor his location.

Vogt told the court that on the night of the incident, Bainbridge and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument. His girlfriend wanted to get out of the car because she didn’t feel safe, according to Vogt. Bainbridge then ripped her car keys out of a closed pocket and drove away in her vehicle.

“The victim was observed to have scratches and abrasions,” Vogt said.

Court documents indicate that Bainbridge was driving 100 mph in a 40-mph zone. He swerved toward police officers who had tried to deploy spike strips, Vogt said, and called dispatch to say he was armed and wouldn’t go back to jail.

The Meridian Police Department initially chased the car until losing sight of the vehicle in Kuna and calling off the chase, according to Statesman reporting. Deputies with Kuna’s police force — the town contracts with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office for its services — saw the car 15 minutes later and pursued Bainbridge on Meridian Road toward Interstate 84.

Law enforcement eventually used a pursuit-intervention technique to stop the car and knock it into the median on I-84. Vogt said Bainbridge exited the vehicle with a gun in his hand; three Kuna deputies fired their weapons at Bainbridge, according to previous reporting.