Crime in front of police department

RATHDRUM — A 29-year-old Rathdrum man was arrested on Wednesday after an alleged crime spree that included a reported robbery attempt in front of the Rathdrum Police Department on Monday.

Devin R. Bischoff was arrested on charges of battery, first-degree stalking, grand theft, eluding and assault around 2 p.m. by the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force in the 3000 block of Diagonal Road in the Rathdrum area. A police K-9 officer, Pogo, assisted. No officers were injured.

"We appreciate and applaud the work of the task force and are thankful that no one was hurt," Rathdrum Police Sgt. Brandon Friis said.

According to Rathdrum Police, a 31-year-old woman drove to the police department on Monday afternoon to report she had been followed by Bischoff. She had obtained a protection order against him.

The alleged victim told police that after she parked at the police department, Bischoff attempted to rob her of her phone. She suffered minor injuries during the incident before making it inside the department, police said.

The injuries did not require medical treatment, Friis said.

Bischoff then allegedly stole the woman's purse from inside her vehicle and fled in his vehicle.

A short time later, an officer found Bischoff nearby. A vehicle pursuit ensued. The chase went north on Highway 41 to Diagonal Road.

"The chase reached a speed of up to 110 [mph]," Friis said, adding that Bischoff allegedly weaved through oncoming traffic.

Rathdrum Police suspended its pursuit because of the risk to other motorists. Idaho State Police assisted; troopers found the vehicle Bischoff was driving abandoned in the Garwood area.

Bischoff, however, was not located.

A warrant was issued for Bischoff, who was also suspected in a vehicle theft Tuesday night.

Task force members later found Bischoff on Wednesday and, when they attempted to make a traffic stop near his parents' property on Diagonal, he fled on foot to a trailer. He surrendered when Pogo found him, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said.

Bischoff has been booked into the Kootenai County Jail 10 times since 2006, including for charges of inattentive driving, cruelty to children, theft and possession of controlled substances.