Caldwell police arrest, identify suspect who hid in Walmart while store was evacuated
The Caldwell Police Department arrested a man Monday afternoon after he hid inside the Walmart on Ustick Road, forcing the store’s evacuation for roughly three hours.
At 1:20 p.m. police said they were called to a “dispute between two parties known to each other” near the 4900 block of Pioneer Avenue, which is less than a mile away from the Walmart Neighborhood Market, according to a Facebook post from the department. Police said that when they arrived, one of the men involved — later identified as 34-year-old Cody Burnett — had left after allegedly vandalizing the other party’s home.
The person who reported the dispute told police that the man was previously convicted of a felony and was armed, the post said.
At around 2 p.m., a Walmart employee called the police to report a “suspicious man” in the restroom. Once police responded to the area, they were able to identify him as Burnett.
Police evacuated the store, located at 622 East Ustick Road in Caldwell, and asked the public to “please avoid the area.”
Caldwell Police Department spokesperson Char Jackson told the Idaho Statesman by email that no one was injured and everyone was able to get out of the store safely. Pioneer Federal Credit Union helped provide shelter.
“We appreciate the employees at Walmart who were quick to notice something was wrong and called us,” the department said in a news release. “This information was crucial to keep employees, customers, and the community safe.
Police said a crisis negotiation team made up of members of the Caldwell Police Department, Nampa Police Department and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office was at the scene.
“After a lengthy negotiation, Burnett agreed to surrender and officers arrested him without incident at 5:00 p.m.,” according to the news release.
Burnett was booked in the Canyon County jail on suspicion of grand theft by possession of stolen gun, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting or obstructing an office and disorderly conduct.
This story was originally published June 12, 2023 at 3:57 PM.
