Homeless man with machete arrested

COEUR d'ALENE - A homeless man wielding a machete was arrested Friday night after he pressed the large blade to another man's throat.

Kenneth R. Smith, 38, was taken into custody outside near 23rd Street and Mullan Avenue after being subdued with a Conducted Energy Device, according to a police report issued Saturday.

CEDs, such as Tasers, are designed to induce involuntary muscle contractions, thereby incapacitating a suspect.

Officers responded before the arrest to a report of a fight at 710 North 21st Street involving a machete. Upon arrival to the area, officers learned the male who had the machete had left the scene, according to the report.

Officers then received additional calls from the people who had spotted the suspect around the 2100 block of Front Avenue waving a machete. At one point, the suspect had pulled the machete on one person and placed it at the bystander's throat. The suspect then reportedly chased a different male with the large knife.

Both of those victims were not involved in the original fight, according to police.

After the arrest, Smith was transported to the Kootenai County Jail where he was charged with felony aggravated battery and aggravated assault, obstructing an officer, malicious injury to property, two counts of battery and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Smith will make his first appearance at the Kootenai County Courthouse on Monday.