MERIDIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE: Tuesday, July 28, 2020
CONTACT: Stephany Galbreaith, Public Safety PIO
[email protected]
Meridian Police Department Arrest Man After Vehicle Pursuit
Meridian Police arrested forty-four (44) year old Derek D. BESSE for one (1) count felony Attempting to Flee or Elude a Police Officer. BESSE also had three (3) felony warrants out of Ada County for parole violations.
The suspect led Meridian Police on a pursuit after a Meridian Police Officer attempted a traffic stop near the Cherry Lane and Ten Mile intersection, around 5:50PM. The officer recognized BESSE’s white Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, which stemmed from a reported battery earlier in the day. When the officer attempted the traffic stop, the suspect fled west reaching speeds of eighty (80) miles per hour. The suspect continued fleeing until turning southbound on Can Ada Rd. and continued fleeing westbound on I-84.
The vehicle stopped near milepost thirty-five (35) and let a female passenger out and then continued fleeing westbound. A Nampa Police Officer used spike strips which effectively deflated a tire. The suspect eventually crashed into a ditch near milepost twenty-nine (29) ending the pursuit. The suspect was quickly apprehended by Meridian officers and taken to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Once cleared from the hospital, Meridian Police will book BESSE into the Canyon County Jail for the above mentioned charges.
The Meridian Police Department would like to thank Nampa Police, Caldwell Police and Idaho State Police for their help in safely apprehending the suspect.
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The Meridian Police Department’s mission is to provide the highest quality service in partnership with the community to preserve and protect life and property through education, prevention and enforcement. The department has 114 police officers and 28 civilian staff dedicated to making Meridian a great place to live, work and raise a family.
