At approximately 1:30am this morning, Idaho Falls Police Officers (IFPD) responded to the Fiesta Ole Restaurant on S. Skyline Dr. to a Burglar alarm activation.  Upon arrival officers discovered someone attempted to break into an exterior door to the building.  While on scene IFPD Officers were sent to the Maverick Country Store on West Broadway at Bellin Rd. to a report of an Armed Robbery where a male with a plastic grocery bag over his head got away with alcohol.  A short time later a 2nd Armed Robbery occurred at the Common Cents Store located on 17th St. and Holmes Ave.  In this incident a male with large amounts of yellow caution tape wrapped around his head entered the store carrying a crow bar demanding money.  The suspect was able to flee the scene with an undisclosed amount of money.
Through investigation officers were able to put out a description of the male to include clothing and items used in the Robbery along with a vehicle description obtained from security footage from the businesses.  At approximately 3:00am a Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Deputy assigned to the City of Ammon located the suspect traveling on 17th St.  The Deputy was able to coordinate with other Deputies and Officers in the area an stop the vehicle in the area of Woodruff and 17th St.  Officers detained the driver of the vehicle and identify him as Jere A. Alford, 31 of Idaho Falls.  Mr. Alford’s clothing matched information obtained in the Robberies and Attempted Burglary and IFPD Officers recovered items taken and used in all three incidents.

During this time Mr. Alford exhibited signs of alcohol use and impairment and was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence at that time.  Mr. Alford was transported to the Bonneville County Jail where he submitted to breath testing indicating a Breath Alcohol Content (BAC) of .17 and .18.

Mr. Alford was booked into jail at that time for Misdemeanor Open Container of Alcohol along with Felonies for Driving Under the Influence (3rd Offense within 10 years), Attempted Burglary and two counts of Robbery.  Idaho Falls Police Detectives continue to investigate these incidents and no further information is available at this time.