U.S. Marshals track Meridian man in Idaho Falls after suspected robbery

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A man wanted in connection with a robbery at a Meridian home where a firearm was allegedly stolen has been arrested after investigators tracked him to eastern Idaho.

The U.S. Marshals Service located and arrested Francisco Salazar on an arrest warrant issued May 7, 2026, in Ada County. Salazar was wanted in connection with a robbery that occurred at a Meridian, Idaho, residence on March 16, 2026. During the robbery, it was alleged that a firearm had been stolen.

On May 11, 2026, the Meridian Police Department forwarded the arrest warrant to the U.S. Marshals Service for investigation. Investigators determined Salazar had fled the Treasure Valley area.

On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Marshals Task Force received a tip about Salazar’s location in the Idaho Falls area. The U.S. Marshals Service said it maintains a network of agencies throughout Idaho as members of the Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force.

During the operation, task force members from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Chubbuck Police Department, Rexburg Police Department and Idaho Falls Police Department joined with U.S. marshals to locate and arrest Salazar.

On June 30, 2026, investigators said task force members were led to a residential area of Idaho Falls, where they positively sighted Salazar. After brief surveillance, they followed him to an unoccupied area adjacent to the Walmart in Ammon, Idaho.

Authorities said an arrest action was initiated as Salazar was exiting a vehicle. Task force members detected Salazar may have been about to flee on foot and deployed a distraction device, which authorities said de-escalated the situation and allowed Salazar to be taken into custody safely.