Battery, False Imprisonment Charges Recommended After North Idaho GOP Town Hall Turns Violent
Police recommend charges after a Coeur d’Alene town hall escalates into physical confrontations, with unlicensed security detaining attendees and Sheriff Norris’s role under scrutiny.
A legislative town hall hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee erupted into chaos on Feb. 22 when multiple attendees were forcibly removed, restrained, or injured by members of a private security group operating without a contract or valid licenses, according to police reports obtained through a public records request.
A months-long investigation by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department concluded with officers recommending criminal charges, including battery, false imprisonment, and municipal code violations, against five individuals affiliated with LEAR Asset Management, a California-based private security company led by Paul Trouette.
The reports also detail the involvement of Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris, who was seen directing security personnel at the event but later denied any formal role in their deployment. Norris was not charged, and his attorney declined an investigator's interview request.
Disruption Escalates Into Physical Confrontation
According to police reports, Dr. Teresa Borrenpohl, a Post Falls resident, was asked to leave the town hall after making verbal comments from the audience. When she refused to comply, Sheriff Norris and several LEAR security officers physically removed her from her seat, pulling her into the aisle. Witnesses and video footage show Borrenpohl was dragged on the ground, placed in zip-tie restraints, and sustained multiple bruises and abrasions during the incident.
She admitted to biting one of the security guards, identified as Christofer Berg, during the struggle, stating it was a reaction while being held near her face. She was initially cited for battery, but the city prosecutor later dismissed the charge. Investigators ultimately listed Borrenpohl as a victim in their final report.
Additional Alleged Victims
Three other attendees were also identified as victims by police:
Gregory Johnson was physically restrained and zip-tied after attempting to intervene during Borrenpohl’s removal. He was held against a wall without being told he was under arrest, according to investigators.
Ben Stallings was pushed by LEAR security staff while waiting for his visually impaired wife near the auditorium exit. He had complied with a request to leave after making a brief comment during the event.
Sarah Forsgren, who was filming the incident, said she was pushed and briefly groped by Trouette while trying to de-escalate the situation in the hallway.
A fifth incident involved Megan Dardis-Kunz, who told police she was pushed in the chest by an unidentified attendee, later identified as Michael Keller of Post Falls. Keller was also reportedly carrying a firearm inside the high school during the event, which is prohibited under Idaho law. Keller appears to have taken down his Facebook profile.
Video footage reviewed by officers supported each of the complainants’ accounts. Investigators recommended charges against Keller for battery and for bringing a weapon onto school grounds.
Security Team Lacked Authorization
According to city officials and email records obtained by police, Trouette and his team—Jesse Jones, Christofer Berg, Russell Dunne, and Alexander Trouette—were not under contract with the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC). They did not hold valid security licenses from the City of Coeur d’Alene.
Despite this, the group was dressed in tactical gear, wore earpieces, and attempted to present themselves as official security personnel. Investigators noted their failure to wear identifiable uniforms or carry required documentation, in violation of Coeur d’Alene Municipal Code.
City law requires any third-party security agents operating at public events to be under contract and clearly marked as security. No contract was ever signed between LEAR and the KCRCC, though a proposed agreement was sent via email the day before the event.
Sheriff's Role Scrutinized
Sheriff Norris was recorded on video directing LEAR personnel to remove attendees and reportedly telling at least two people they would be arrested if they did not leave. Despite his visible involvement, Norris did not file a report on the incident, and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office did not initiate an internal review. His legal counsel declined a request by CdA police for an interview with Norris.
In one video reviewed by police, Norris identified himself to Borrenpohl and told her to leave or be arrested. Seconds later, security officers physically intervened.
Prosecutorial Review Pending
The CDAPD has submitted a charging request for each LEAR employee involved, including multiple counts of battery, false imprisonment, and municipal code violations.
The incident has drawn public scrutiny over using private security at political events, particularly in public school facilities. No representatives of LEAR Asset Management have provided public statements, and the company’s license to operate as a security provider within city limits has been revoked.
The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee hosted the town hall, which was held in the auditorium of Coeur d’Alene High School. School officials confirmed that the group had only rented the space and that the district did not authorize any private security presence inside the building.
Incident Report Links:
https://www.cdaid.org/files/Police/25c08400-Redacted.pdf
https://www.cdaid.org/files/Police/25c08232-Redacted.pdf
https://www.cdaid.org/files/Police/25c08040-Redacted.pdf
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About the Author
Gregory Graf is the creator of Political Potatoes and a lifelong conservative Republican. His articles often criticize the hypocrisy committed by far-right grifters who’ve taken control of the GOP. Graf is the CEO of Snake River Strategies, a strategic communications and political consulting firm based in Eagle, Idaho. You can follow Graf’s work on X, Threads, or Facebook.
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Maybe there will be lessons learned after this debacle.
First, Americans have rights (at least for the time being). If you violate those rights, there will be repercussions.
Second, maybe these so-called security agents will learn the basic skill of de-escalation. What made it clear that the LEAR Asset Management team was untrained, was how quick they, themselves, escalated the situation. Then, LEAR made things worse by lying about the details.
I hope this “security” business is now… out of business.
It seems, since Regan became chair of the KCRCC, everything Regan and his followers touch turns to cow dung.