Coeur d’Alene, ID - On February 26th, 2019, at approximately 6:47PM, a Kootenai County Sheriff’s Deputy located a vehicle previously reported as a suspicious person/vehicle who had been contacted by Coeur d’Alene Police. While being contacted by CDAPD Officers the unidentified male passenger climbed into the driver seat and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. A KCSO deputy located the vehicle north bound Hwy 95 X Dalton travelling at a high rate of speed. The Deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop and the driver failed to pull over and a pursuit followed throughout Hayden and into the Rathdrum area. Speeds at times exceeded 105 mph during the pursuit. Deputies were able to successfully spike the suspects’ vehicle at Hwy 53 x McGuire Rd. The suspect continued eluding for over 1.5 miles with both front tires disabled into a private driveway in the Hollister Hills area. The driver fled on foot and was taken into custody a short time later. The driver was later identified as Eric L Blum, age 32 of Athol Idaho. Blum was booked into Kootenai County Public Safety building on felony eluding, possession of paraphernalia and driving without privileges. Blum has previously been booked into Kootenai County Public Safety Building 13 times for warrants.
.
Sheriff Ben Wolfinger
By: Dep. Sifford
Case # 19-06862