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LOGAN — An Idaho man injured during a shootout with emergency crews near the Utah-Idaho border has been charged with attempted murder.
Cade M. Austin, 30, of Preston, Idaho, was charged Monday in 1st District Court with two counts of attempted murder, a first-degree felony; DUI, a class B misdemeanor; interfering with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor; reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor; and having an open container in a vehicle, a class C misdemeanor.
On Dec. 15, Austin was driving erratically on U.S. 91 near Lewiston, Cache County, when he went off the road and crashed into a large natural gas line, causing gas to spew out of it, police said.
But when the first paramedics arrived at the scene, Austin allegedly pulled a gun on them. There was an exchange of gunfire before Austin and other responders who were able to safely retreat to cover.
Among the first responders was Jeremy Hunt, the assistant fire chief for the Smithfield Fire Department who is also a member of Cache County Ambulance and a reserve officer with the North Park Police Department. Hunt was carrying a firearm at the time and hit Austin.
A standoff between Austin and law enforcement ensued for the next hour. Authorities say he refused to get out of his car and continued to drink from a bottle of Crown Royal whiskey until he passed out, according to the Associated Press. A SWAT team was able to approach the vehicle and take the injured Austin to a hospital.
After his release from a hospital this week, Austin was booked into the Cache County Jail. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 4.