Woman accused of chewing seat of sheriff's vehicle

SANDPOINT - A Bonner County woman arrested on a host of misdemeanor charges on Thursday added a felony to the pile after allegedly gnawing through the upholstery of a sheriff's patrol vehicle while being taken to jail.

Staci Anne Spence is charged with malicious injury to property at the felony level because replacing the seat exceeded $1,000, according to court documents.

Spence is also charged with battery, battery on a law officer, driving under the influence and resisting arrest. Judge Debra Heise set Spence's bail at $32,000 and appointed a public defender to represent her, court records show.

Spence, 42, was arrested Thursday morning at her north-side home after allegedly dousing a couple with pepper spray as they slept in a van parked off Grouse Creek Cutoff Road.

Spence was identified as the couple's assailant and deputies went to her home to arrest her for battery. Spence greeted the deputies with profanity, racial slurs and uncooperativeness, a probable cause affidavit alleges.

While being taken into custody, she allegedly pulled away from the two deputies who were holding her arms and kicked a third deputy before being subdued. She was put in leg restraints and placed on her stomach in the back of a deputy's sport utility vehicle.

Upon arriving at the Bonner County Jail, deputies discovered that Spence had chewed through the seat's upholstery and into the foam cushioning, the affidavit said. Replacing the Chevrolet Tahoe's seat was estimated at more than $2,000.

An allegedly combative Spence was arrested by Sandpoint Police in July for battery at the Panida Theater. A police report said Spence produced a beer after she was put in the back of the patrol vehicle and consumed it en route to the jail.