A man accused of firing shots at a Twin Falls residence last month and fleeing from law enforcement has turned himself in to authorities, the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this week.
Jacob Bellus, 32, surrendered to the Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday afternoon, more than a month after the April 5 incident that prompted a shelter-in-place order for parts of Twin Falls, according to Lori Stewart with the Sheriff’s Office.
Shooting Followed Text Message Dispute
The incident began around 9:30 p.m. on April 5 when sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of gunfire near 3125 North and 3500 East in Twin Falls County. According to court documents, the shooting followed a heated text message exchange between Bellus and the homeowner.
A vehicle at the property was struck during the shooting, but no injuries were reported, authorities said.
Chase and Search Effort
Deputies located a cream-colored 1990 GMC Jimmy matching the description of the suspect vehicle. When a deputy attempted a traffic stop, Bellus accelerated and fled, leading law enforcement on a pursuit through the area, court records state.
Bellus abandoned the vehicle near Beno Street and Highland Avenue and fled on foot. The Sheriff’s Office deployed drones, a K-9 team, and SWAT personnel to search the neighborhood. Twin Falls County issued a shelter-in-place order for residents in the area during the search operations.
Despite the extensive search effort, Bellus evaded capture that night and remained at large for more than a month.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Bellus now faces multiple felony charges including discharging a firearm, aggravated assault, malicious injury to property, and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a motor vehicle.
He made his initial appearance in felony magistrate court on Thursday afternoon. A judge set bond at $500,000. Bellus is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 29.
What Comes Next
The case will proceed through the Twin Falls County court system with the preliminary hearing scheduled for later this month. Prosecutors will present evidence to determine whether there is sufficient cause to bind Bellus over for trial on the felony charges. If convicted on all counts, he could face significant prison time under Idaho law.
The Sheriff’s Office has not released additional information about what led Bellus to turn himself in or whether he was assisted by an attorney in the surrender process.