IDAHO FALLS -– A 43-year-old Pocatello man was arrested after allegedly speeding away from police and causing over $25,000 in damages after being pulled over for speeding.
Joshua Edward Maddock is charged with felonies for fleeing or attempting to elude officers, two charges for malicious injury to property, possession of a controlled substance, destruction of evidence, and misdemeanors for DUI, resisting officers, two charges for failure to stop for an accident, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also issued a citation for speeding 98 mph in an 80 mph posted zone and for failing to wear a seatbelt.
According to court documents, an Idaho State Police officer received a report Monday night about a driver failing to maintain their lane, running off the road, almost striking other vehicles, and speeding.
A news release from ISP says the officer conducted a traffic stop at Love’s Truck Stop on the 2023 white Toyota Camry traveling northbound on Interstate 15 for a traffic violation.
The officer identified the driver as Maddock and said he “appeared very slow and lethargic in nature, his face was flushed and droopy, and he was soft-spoken and hard to hear.”
When asked if he was impaired or fatigued, Maddock reportedly stated he was “extremely tired and finished a long shift at work.” He was asked to step out of the vehicle to check for impairment, where officers say they observed him “walk slowly and lethargically in a staggering motion.” He reportedly admitted to using marijuana earlier in the day.
According to court documents, Maddock gave the officer permission to search his car, where two fake urine bottles were reportedly found. When Maddock was told about the findings, court records say he “became upset and argumentative” and “began walking and attempted to force himself back into his vehicle.”
Officers tried to keep him from getting back into his car, but “being large in stature, (Maddock) was able to successfully resist being handcuffed.” The officer tried to use a Taser on Maddock several times, but he “made no reaction to the Taser being deployed on him, other than audibly saying ‘Ow.’”
Maddock then quickly sped away, driving over a curb and striking an above-ground fueling system, causing “significant damage to both his vehicle and Love’s Truck Stop”.
He then drove east and went over a ditch, causing more damage to the landscape and the car but avoiding arrest at that point.
Shortly after, officers found Maddock’s car stuck in the middle of the Rush Truck Repair lot “with the front gate tangled in the front of the Camry.” Police say the engine was still on and running, but Maddock was not seen.
Soon, Maddock was found hiding inside a gated area of the property that he had allegedly broken into through a fence, in the back of a white bus, and was taken into custody. While walking back to Maddock’s car, officers say they found a baggie of suspected meth in the middle of the parking lot near his car.
During a later search of the car, officers say they found an additional bag with “meth residue and a blue paraphernalia item,” as well as a black scale and a suspected marijuana vape in a cartridge.
According to police reports, Love’s Truck Stop sustained damages worth over $20,000, and Rush Truck Repair sustained damages worth over $5,000.
Maddock was transported to Idaho Falls Community Hospital for a jail clearance but reportedly “refused to cooperate with a DUI investigation and refused a consensual blood draw.”
Court documents say Maddock was on probation for eluding officers until 2029 out of Franklin County, with supervision moved to Pocatello Probation and Parole.
Maddock was booked into the Bonneville County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on June 24. He could face up to 30 and a half months in prison if convicted.
“This all started with a phone call. A concerned citizen reported a driver speeding and swerving, which quickly became much more serious,” says Idaho State Police spokesman Chris Weadick in the release. “This is a powerful reminder that when the public and law enforcement work together, we can keep our communities safer. If you see something suspicious or dangerous on the road, don’t hesitate to call *ISP (*477) or 911.”
