POCATELLO, Idaho — A brief lockdown at Pocatello City Hall and the Pocatello Police Department ended without incident Wednesday morning after investigators determined the man who triggered the precautionary measure was never near either building, authorities said.
At approximately 10:51 a.m., Pocatello Police Dispatch received a report of a male subject making threats to harm department employees and believed to be in the parking lot of Pocatello City Hall and the police department, according to a Pocatello Police Department news release. Officers and a K-9 unit were deployed to the scene as a precautionary measure.
The lockdown lasted approximately 30 minutes. During that time, city employees and members of the public attempting to enter City Hall were escorted inside by officers, and the public was asked to avoid the area entirely.
Phone Ping Shifts Investigation to Chubbuck
Shortly after the lockdown began, investigators traced the subject’s phone and determined he was actually located in Chubbuck — not anywhere near Pocatello City Hall. The Pocatello lockdown was lifted, and the Chubbuck Police Department assumed responsibility for the investigation.
Chubbuck Police Chief Nick Sasser said his department responded by locking down its own police headquarters, City Hall, and fire department as a precautionary measure. The call, which came through Pocatello’s dispatch, involved an adult male experiencing a mental health crisis.
“The male was ultimately contacted by one of our officers via phone and we learned he was planning on going to a crisis center with a family member,” Chief Sasser said. “No charges are being filed.”
The man was not arrested. The matter was resolved when he agreed to seek help at a crisis center, accompanied by a family member.
Mayor: ‘It Turned Out Not to Be a Really Big Deal’
Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist said the situation was unsettling at first but became less alarming as more details emerged from investigators.
“It’s kind of unnerving,” Mayor Dahlquist said. “The lockdown was a precautionary measure and there never ended up being a threat or anything. But yeah, it kind of put us on edge a little bit, but then as we learned more, it turned out to not be a really big deal.”
Dahlquist said he was later briefed on the circumstances that led to the 911 call. The man had been experiencing a suicidal crisis and called 911 expressing that he wanted law enforcement to be involved in his death — a scenario sometimes referred to as “suicide by cop.” The call was routed through Pocatello’s dispatch before investigators pinged his phone and located him in Chubbuck.
“It turned out he wasn’t even around our building at all,” Dahlquist said.
Both law enforcement agencies were credited for their swift, coordinated response, which kept city employees and the public safe while the situation was assessed and resolved. The deployment of officers and a K-9 unit to Pocatello City Hall reflected standard public safety protocol when a credible threat to government facilities is reported. Read more about the Pocatello City Hall and Police Department lockdown response here.
Mental Health Resources Available in Southeast Idaho
Wednesday’s incident underscored the importance of mental health crisis resources in the Pocatello and Chubbuck area. Residents or family members in crisis are encouraged to call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. The South East Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center in Pocatello can be reached at 208-909-5177, and Portneuf Medical Center Behavioral Health Services can be reached at 208-239-2571.
For more details on the lockdown response and its resolution, see our earlier coverage of the Pocatello and Chubbuck city offices lockdown. For additional reporting on recent law enforcement activity in Bannock County, visit Idaho News for the latest statewide coverage.
What Comes Next
No criminal charges are expected in connection with Wednesday’s incident. Both the Pocatello and Chubbuck police departments have returned to normal operations. Officials have not indicated any planned policy changes to lockdown or threat-response protocols as a result of the incident, though the episode highlighted the value of inter-agency coordination between Pocatello and Chubbuck law enforcement. The man involved is expected to receive mental health care through a local crisis center.