Idaho Falls Incident Sparks Public Concern, Legal Action
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – A 24-year-old man is facing felony kidnapping charges after allegedly pushing away a shopping cart with a 4-week-old infant inside at an Idaho Falls Costco. The incident drew widespread public attention after the baby’s mother shared her account on social media.
Michael Garrison Raine, a student at BYU-Idaho, has been formally charged with second-degree kidnapping following the November 20 incident. The baby was not harmed.
Mother Reports Infant Taken in Cart
According to court documents, Natalie Millett contacted police after her shopping cart—containing her newborn in a car seat—was allegedly taken while she was browsing in the book section of the store.
Millett stated the car seat was clearly visible, positioned deep in the cart and protruding above its rim. She said she noticed a man lingering nearby before realizing the cart had disappeared. Moments later, she spotted it being pushed away by an unfamiliar man in a different aisle.
She confronted the man, reclaimed the cart and her child, and described his behavior as apologetic and attempting to defuse the situation. She later posted about the experience on Facebook, prompting a strong reaction from the community.
Video Footage and Investigation
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly showed a man entering Costco alone at 10:20 a.m. with no cart. About 20 minutes later, he was seen in the book aisle, appearing to examine books and glance at nearby shoppers.
Footage then shows him pushing away Millett’s cart while she was looking at a book. After Millett recovered the cart, the man reportedly attempted to speak to her before checking out at self-service using a membership card not registered to him. He then purchased food and left the store.
Authorities used the Costco membership information to trace the suspect to a BYU-Idaho student housing complex in Rexburg. Through video evidence and a matching vehicle, police identified Raine as the individual seen in the footage.
Arrest and Background Details
According to police, Raine visited a U.S. Marine Corps recruiting station in Idaho Falls later that same day, intending to process for enlistment. He was reportedly disqualified during the Military Entrance Processing Station evaluation in Boise due to psychological concerns.
Raine remains out on bail. Some community members expressed frustration about his release, while others debated whether the incident constituted a criminal act.
The College has confirmed that Raine is currently enrolled as a student.
Next Steps
Local prosecutors are currently reviewing the evidence to determine whether the case will proceed to trial. The child was not injured during the incident, and Millett has stated she is working closely with authorities to ensure accountability.
Related Coverage
- Idaho News – https://idahonews.co/idaho-news-3/
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