FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 1st, 2026
CONTACT: Jordan Robinson, Public Safety PIO 208-846-7360 or [email protected]
Police Investigate Shots Fired Incident; Suspect in Custody
MERIDIAN- At approximately 4:37 p.m. on April 1, 2026, officers with the Meridian Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the 700 block of W. Overland Road.
Through the investigation, officers determined that John HANDEGARD, a 37-year-old male from Kuna, discharged multiple rounds from a handgun into the air while in a parking lot in the area.
Ada County Sheriff’s Office deputies initially located the suspect vehicle, described as a white truck, and attempted to stop him. The suspect failed to stop and eluded officers, leading them on a pursuit lasting approximately two miles. The pursuit ended in a dirt parking lot adjacent to Interstate 84, where the suspect refused to surrender.
An approximately hour-long standoff followed, during which Interstate 84 and surrounding roadways were temporarily shut down to ensure public safety.
The situation was successfully de-escalated, and the suspect surrendered peacefully without further incident.
No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.
HANDEGARD was taken into custody and booked on multiple misdemeanor charges including eluding a police officer, resisting officers, and drug-related offenses.
The Meridian Police Department is grateful for the assistance of our partner agencies, including the Ada County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Police, whose support helped bring this situation to a safe resolution.
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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 147 police officers, and 45 non-sworn staff dedicated to making Meridian a great place to live, work and raise a family.
