Fugitive Idaho inmate and alleged accomplice apprehended following extensive search

The inmate who escaped from an Idaho prison, Skylar Meade, and his suspected accomplice, Nicholas Umphenour, were taken into custody in Twin Falls after a short car chase. Police suspect the men may be linked to two homicides in Nez Perce County and Clearwater County that occurred during the escape and manhunt. Meade, serving a 20-year sentence for shooting at a sheriff’s sergeant, had planned the attack that wounded three officers to free himself during transportation from a hospital. The incident involved Umphenour firing at officers during Meade’s transfer back to the corrections facility, resulting in two officers being shot and the pair fleeing the scene.

The Idaho State Police are investigating the homicides and the coroner’s office will provide identification and causes of death for the victims, who were both adult males. Officials believe the attack on the officers was a planned event, with Tewalt, the director of the Corrections Department, stating they are channeling all available resources into understanding how the men went about planning it. Meade, who exhibited injurious behavior in a maximum-security facility, was being treated at a hospital when the escape occurred. The Corrections Department is investigating the incident to determine how security measures failed during Meade’s transfer.

Boise police Chief Ron Winegar reported that no gunfire was exchanged during Meade and Umphenour’s arrest, and there was no extensive use of force. Meade and Umphenour, both identified as members of the Aryan Knights, had overlapping sentences at an Idaho maximum security institution. The Corrections Department had augmented security measures during Meade’s transfer due to his criminal history, and he was wearing restraints at the time. Two officers injured in the escape incident are stable and improving in the hospital, while one officer has been released. The hospital where the incident occurred was briefly placed on lockdown due to reports of an active shooter.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the escape and subsequent manhunt, as well as the two homicides that may be linked to Meade and Umphenour. The incident raised questions about security procedures and how the escape was allowed to happen, particularly in a high-security environment. Meade, serving a lengthy prison sentence for a violent crime, managed to evade custody during a routine transport back to the corrections facility. The Aryan Knights, identified as a security threat group, have been monitored by authorities in an attempt to disrupt their activities. The arrests of Meade and Umphenour bring a sense of closure to the community after a violent and chaotic incident involving multiple shootings and a manhunt.