'Nickel sack' investigation complete

COEUR d'ALENE - An internal investigation of the Kootenai County Sheriff's deputies who detained two men in June over a potential misunderstanding between the words "nickel sack" and "Nickelback" is complete.

Dylan Swinford, 23; and Riker Morrow, 22; both of Coeur d'Alene, were detained in the parking lot of Maverik gas station on June 20.

A video of the incident, recorded by Morrow, shows the deputies confronting the duo, accusing them of discussing a drug deal involving a "nickel sack" of marijuana when the men say they were actually talking about a rock band.

"That guy over there was blasting Nickelback," Swinford told the deputies at the scene.

Discussion between the officers, who frequently use profanity, and the two suspects continues. At one point a deputy allegedly draws his weapon on the passenger.

The video quickly went viral in June, appearing on multiple websites, with 158,000 views on YouTube alone.

Lt. Stu Miller, of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, told The Press the deputies are currently working.

"The matter has been concluded," Miller said.

Sheriff Ben Wolfinger responded by email to a request for clarification on how the internal investigation was concluded.

"You know I cannot speak on a personnel matter unless you are holding written permission from the involved employees," Wolfinger wrote.

In a response to a public records request from The Press, Miller released the names of the two deputies involved: Deputy Harvey Ballman and Deputy J. Hyle.

There was no body-cam footage taken by the deputies during the incident, Miller said.

Miller added that the deputies' report from the incident could not be provided because "there is no criminal report."