Briefs February 1, 2011

Fresh Start center opens its doors

The Fresh Start Warming Center, 1524 E Sherman Ave., near downtown Coeur d'Alene had nearly 20 guests Sunday night and will remain open every night the temperature is expected to reach 20 degrees or lower.

The center is open from 7:30 p.m. to noon the following day.

Available services include hot food & coffee, showers, rest rooms, bedding, clothing, Internet and telephone access.

There is capacity for 104 overnight guests, 64 at the main warming center and 40 additional at the overflow warming center located at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

Jury rules in favor of Cd'A police

COEUR d'ALENE - A federal jury on Friday returned a verdict in favor of Coeur d'Alene police in a lawsuit filed by Deloyd Scott and Conrad Steele in February 2009.

The lawsuit arose after Steele was stopped for a traffic violation and Scott was arrested for obstructing police officers in May 2008.

In rendering its verdict in U.S. District Court in Coeur d'Alene, the jury determined police lawfully stopped Steele for failing to use his turn signal and that the search of his vehicle was reasonable following the arrest of his passenger on an outstanding warrant, according to a city press release.

The jury also found that police used reasonable force in the arrest of Scott, who threatened officers as they tried to handcuff him.

Officers attempted to subdue him with Tasers, but they seemed to have no effect, the release said.

The federal court had earlier dismissed all the claims of Scott and Steele against the city of Coeur d'Alene and Police Chief Wayne Longo, including Scott's claim of false arrest, and the plaintiffs' conspiracy claims.

The plaintiff was represented by Larry Purviance of Hayden.