Authorities identify man killed in car chase

Jeffery Allen Flinn, 46, of Lewiston was identified Monday as the man shot and killed Saturday by police on U.S. Highway 95 near Ferdinand after a car chase ended in gunfire.

FBI Specialist Debbie Bertram said officers from the Nez Perce Tribal Police Department fired the fatal shot or shots.

Tribal Police Chief Leslie Hendrick said three of her officers have been placed on routine paid administrative leave. Names of the officers have not been released.

The FBI and Idaho State Police are heading up the investigation and declined to release additional details about the shooting, including whether Flinn was armed, how many shots were fired and how many times Flinn was shot.

The incident began about 5:15 p.m. Saturday with a report to the Nez Perce County sheriff's office of a one-vehicle accident on Waha Road.

Flinn failed to negotiate a curve just north of the McGregor plant and laid his 2004 Chevrolet pickup on its side, said Nez Perce County sheriff's Lt. Bill Madison.

According to a sheriff's release, a passer-by stopped to help a man, later identified as Flinn, who then reportedly stole the passer-by's white Ford crew-cab pickup truck.

A tribal officer reportedly located and attempted to stop the stolen truck on Webb Road. Flinn refused to stop and headed south on U.S. Highway 95 up the Culdesac Grade.

Police Saturday said speeds never exceeded 55 mph and slowed to about 25 at the top of the grade when Flinn encountered snow.

An ISP trooper coming from Grangeville deployed spike strips at mile marker 270 outside of Craigmont. The spikes flattened three tires on the pickup, but Flinn was able to continue for about a mile and a half.

Flinn was shot at the conclusion of the chase and died at the scene, according to the FBI.

Other law enforcement agencies involved in the pursuit included Nez Perce County and Lewis County sheriffs' offices. No officers were injured.

The Nez Perce County release also states witnesses at the Waha Road accident reported Flinn was intoxicated and suicidal.

Nez Perce County Sheriff Dale Buttrey said Saturday Flinn had been arrested on charges of driving under the influence Friday and was released from jail earlier Saturday.

Madison said the office's last contact with Flinn before Friday was in April for a domestic dispute that did not result in his arrest.

The investigation will be reviewed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for Idaho because the incident took place on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, according to a news release from the FBI.

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Bloomsburg may be contacted at codyb@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2274.