Man charged for high-speed chase, possession of drugs, gun, money
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CHUBBUCK — Police say a man led them on a high-speed chase before crashing into a patrol vehicle. Now he faces numerous charges.
John Charles Geyer, 27, has been charged with felonies for three counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of eluding an officer, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of grand theft and one count of assault on a correctional officer. He has also been charged with a misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Pocatello police officers patrolling the area of Angela and Brookstone Streets around 9 a.m. Nov. 12 saw a grey Honda Accord known to be driven by Geyer, who had felony warrants, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
They attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Honda near Cobblestone Avenue, but the vehicle instead sped away.
Another officer, staged several blocks from the attempted stop, deployed spike strips in an attempt to disable the Honda. However, the Honda veered around the spike strip, driving up onto the curb to pass the second officer.
Geyer, who was later identified as the driver of the Honda, turned onto West Chubbuck Road. He was clocked going as fast as 77 mph as he continued his attempt to elude officers.
Police made one more failed attempt to stop Geyer using a spike strip, then another failed attempt at a PIT maneuver before — with the assistance of Idaho State Police and Bannock County Sheriff’s deputies — they were able to box him in on Siphon Road.
Before stopping, Geyer crashed into the back of a deputy’s patrol vehicle, the affidavit says.
Once the Honda was fully stopped, officers approached Geyer, who claimed to have suffered an injury in the collision. Officers provided Geyer with a dose of Narcan, and he was taken to Portneuf Medical Center by ground ambulance.
Before transport, officers found Geyer in possession of suspected cocaine, suspected methamphetamine and a pistol magazine, according to police reports.
While searching the cab of the Honda, officers found a Walther P22 which had been reported as stolen.
A police K9 performed an exterior search of the car, indicating the presence of drugs inside the vehicle.
As officers continued their search of the Honda, they reportedly found a black bag containing Geyer’s wallet, a “large amount of cash” and suspected fentanyl pills. In the vehicle’s trunk, officers found more cash, along with items “indicative of drug trafficking” — including a scale and small plastic baggies — and a Bushmaster .223 rifle.
All suspected drugs were tested and returned presumptive positives.
After he was medically cleared, Geyer was placed under arrest and taken to Bannock County Jail, where he was booked and is being held on a $100,000 bond.
Though Geyer has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.
If he is found guilty, Geyer would face up to life in prison.
He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judge Carol Tippi Jarman on Dec. 4.
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