In the late morning of March 18, 2016, a tragic series of events unfolded near a hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho, culminating in the death of 60-year-old David Alma Giles, a White male from St. Anthony. Giles was being transported by his wife and others to receive mental health treatment, as he was reportedly suffering from Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Along U.S. Highway 20, his agitation led to a disturbance that prompted a call to law enforcement.
A Jefferson County Sheriff's Captain, John Wolfe, responded to the scene. In an effort to build rapport with the distressed man, the captain allowed Giles to ride in the front seat of his patrol car, with his wife in the back, for the remainder of the journey to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
As they neared their destination, Giles's agitation escalated, and he became confrontational and belligerent. Upon arriving at the hospital's parking lot, Captain Wolfe exited the vehicle and had Mrs. Giles do the same. When the captain attempted to escort Giles to the hospital, a physical altercation ensued. Giles reportedly tried to put his hands around the captain's throat and was pushed back into the passenger seat. At this point, Giles grabbed the officer's duty shotgun, which was locked in a rack inside the patrol car. Captain Wolfe deployed pepper spray and tried to remove Giles from the vehicle, but Giles managed to free the shotgun from its failed locking mechanism.
The struggle for control of the weapon spilled out of the patrol car. Giles emerged from the vehicle and pointed the shotgun at the deputy. Captain Wolfe grabbed the barrel of the gun, attempting to push it away. During the struggle, the shotgun fired, striking Giles in the chest. Despite immediate medical attention and being rushed into the nearby emergency room, David Alma Giles succumbed to his wound. An investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Bonneville County Prosecutor's Office, which ultimately cleared the deputy of any wrongdoing in the fatal incident. No arrests were made, and the officer was not considered a suspect in the death of David Giles.
