BOISE, Idaho — Ada County Sheriff's Deputy Tobin Bolter, who was shot Saturday night while conducting a traffic stop in Boise, has died from his injuries. During a news conference Sunday morning at 10 a.m., Sheriff Matt Clifford, barely holding back tears, said he had died only moments prior.
"Video shows the deputy never even made it to the window," he said.
As the tears began to flow from the sheriff's eyes, he thanked the people that helped or reached out after the shooting.
"I want to thank all of the people all over Idaho, all the chiefs and sheriffs that have reached out. It's not just our community here. It shows what kind of a state we live in," Clifford said.
Clifford said Deputy Bolter was 27 years old and had been with the sheriff's office since January, having previously worked at the Meridian Police Department and the Pleasant Hill Police Department in California.
This is the first Ada County Sheriff's deputy to be killed in the line of duty in the office's history, according to Sheriff Clifford.
"This is something you don't ever want to experience as an agency head," Sheriff Clifford said. "It will be one of those things that will never be forgotten."
The suspect, a 65-year-old man believed to be from Boise, was later shot and killed after a confrontation with officers nearby. In the news conference, police said although the suspect did have a $3,000 warrant out for his arrest, they do not know why he shot the deputy and did not identify him. Police said he had a handgun in his possession.
The Ada County Coroner's Office said Deputy Bolter's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the neck.
Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar said this is an extremely difficult time for the agency.
"There is absolutely no excuse, or justifiable reason for this violence perpetrated against law enforcement officers in our community," Winegar said.
The Ada County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) said the deputy had a vehicle pulled over near West Overland Road and North Raymond Street on April 20 just before 9 p.m. when the suspect in the vehicle shot the deputy and drove off.
Police said a witness saw the shooting and called 911 before performing CPR on the deputy, who was then taken to Saint Alphonsus.
The Boise Police Department (BPD) said the suspect's vehicle was found near South Dorian and West Roosevelt streets around 9:30 p.m. but no one was inside.
Officers said they eventually located the suspect nearby on South Jackson Street outside a home and tried to get him to surrender.
A Code Red alert was sent to people living in the area, and Chief Winegar said officers also made personal contact with neighbors notify them as well.
Shortly after midnight, officers said the suspect opened fire on them, and a Boise police officer returned fire and shot him. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
As police were responding to the scene of the shooting, officers said another deputy, Dallas Denney, was on their way to the area when they were involved in a crash with another car and a power pole near South Meridian Road and East Amity Road. Deputy Denney was taken to Saint Al's and their condition is stable.
The ACSO said it has been overwhelmed by the support of the community. If people would like to donate directly to the families of fallen Deputy Tobin Bolter or injured Deputy Dallas Denney the ACSO offers the following options. Please specify to which deputy the donation should be directed to.
Direct deposit at Idaho Central Credit Union (Routing number: 324173626 // Account number: 737631173)
Venmo (@ACSEA)
Mail (Ada County Sheriff Employees’ Association PO Box 45009 Boise, ID 83711)
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