NAMPA, ID – A 27-year-old Nampa Man was released from jail, stole a car, led police in a pursuit, crashed the stolen car, & ran away on foot – all on the same day, according to the Nampa Police Department’s Facebook page. Officials say Joshua Dylan Jensen has had an extensive criminal history during the last several months.
In one recent case from February 1st, Third District Magistrate Judge John Meienhofer set Jensen’s bond at just $25 for false information and possession of drug paraphernalia, along with two previous arrest warrants. In the most recent case from February 7th, that same Adams County judge set bond at $1 million.
On February 7th at 6:38 p.m., Nampa Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a vehicle had just been stolen from a gas station parking lot in the 2200 block of N. Franklin Rd. The vehicle had been left running while the driver went inside the store. Dispatch relayed the vehicle information to Nampa Police officers and surrounding agencies to attempt to locate it.
From the Nampa Police Department:
At 6:48 p.m., a Nampa Police officer located the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it. The driver accelerated and attempted to elude the officer. Due to traffic volume, the short pursuit was terminated. The driver, with no regard for public safety, continued recklessly at a high rate of speed and crashed the stolen vehicle into an innocent motorist near the intersection of Franklin and Karcher. There were some non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash and EMS was dispatched to the crash scene. Once the vehicles came to a stop, the suspect bailed out of the stolen vehicle and ran from police on foot.
After a short foot chase, 27-year-old Joshua Dylan Jensen of Nampa was taken into custody at 6:52 p.m. Due to the vehicle crash, Jensen was evaluated by medical personnel. Once he was cleared by them, he was transported to the Canyon County Jail on the charges of grand theft (I18-2407(1)), aggravated assault (I18-905), reckless driving (I49-1401(1)), felony eluding police officer (I49-1404(2)), leaving the scene of an injury accident (18-8007) and resisting and obstructing an officer (I18-705).
After Jensen was in custody and identified, officers recognized Jensen has an extensive record dating back to 2013. Officers also discovered he had been released from jail earlier that same day when two warrants were quashed, (i.e., reject or void, especially by legal procedure) and he was sent to pre-trial services.
Here is a look at the last seven months for Mr. Jensen:
- 06/27/2022 – Mr. Jensen was arrested by Nampa PD for possession of a controlled substance (felony) and possession of drug paraphernalia. A Canyon County judge set Jensen’s bail at $2,500.
- 07/06/2022 – Mr. Jensen posted the $2,500 bond and was released on pre-trial.
- 12/24/2022 – Mr. Jensen was issued a misdemeanor summons for leaving the scene of an accident in Bannock County.
- 01/10/2023 – Mr. Jensen failed to appear for trial regarding his drug arrest on 06/27/2022. A Canyon County judge issued a warrant for his arrest and set his bond at $10,000.
- 01/13/2023 – Mr. Jensen failed to appear in court in Bannock County and a judge ordered a bench warrant for his arrest.
- 02/01/2023 – Mr. Jensen was arrested by Nampa PD for false information and possession of drug paraphernalia and the two previously noted warrants. Magistrate Judge John Meienhofer set Jensen’s bail at $25 for the two new misdemeanor charges. (NOTE: We confirmed with the Canyon County Clerk’s Office that the “$25.00” was not a typographical error. The amount was in fact only $25.00.)
- 02/07/2023 – A Canyon County judge ordered Mr. Jensen’s release and he was sent to pre-trial services. The previous warrants were quashed.
- 02/07/2023 – Mr. Jensen stole the vehicle, ran from the police in the stolen vehicle, crashed into an innocent person and then ran from the police on foot. This is the incident outlined in this press release.
- 02/08/2023 – Mr. Jensen was arraigned on the three felony charges and Judge Meienhofer set Jensen’s bail at $1,000,000
Chief Joe Huff said, “Some will ask, ‘Where is the accountability?’ I’m here to tell you it’s with the hard working, committed police officers willingly risking their lives every day to protect those they serve. The judicial system is failing our community too often. I am willing to consider second chances in most instances, but when do the extra chances stop? If criminals aren’t learning from their mistakes, they should be paying for them by being in custody.”
