MOUNTAIN HOME, ID — A routine traffic stop turned deadly Sunday afternoon in Mountain Home, leaving a driver dead and a police officer injured after a violent encounter on Sunset Strip.

According to the Mountain Home Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 2:51 p.m. on July 27, 2025, when an officer initiated a traffic stop. The situation escalated when the driver refused to comply with commands, leading to a physical struggle inside the vehicle.

During the altercation, the officer’s arm became trapped in the vehicle’s window. As the driver attempted to flee, the officer was dragged several feet before the window was lowered, allowing him to fall free from the moving car.

The officer sustained injuries and was transported to St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise for treatment. He has since been released.

The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office later located the vehicle and found the driver deceased from what appeared to be self-inflicted injuries. The Sheriff’s Office is handling the ongoing investigation into the death.

Interim Chief of Police Ty Larsen expressed appreciation to community members who assisted the injured officer prior to the arrival of emergency personnel.

Additional updates will be released as the investigation continues.