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
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