Briefs
Sewage spill reported at Twin Lakes Village
TWIN LAKES VILLAGE - A backed-up sewer line spilled an estimated 165 gallons of sewage Saturday on an easement between Village Boulevard and Fir Lane in Twin Lakes Village.
The spill was reported by an anonymous person, and the system owner and operators responded.
The backup was caused by rags, grease and hair blocking the line. Pump trucks and a line jetting machine were called to remove the blockage.
Lime and chlorine were used to disinfect the contaminated area. The system was returned to normal operations by Saturday night. There were no indications that sewage reached the lake.
Fugitive sought on felony eluding, theft charges
COEUR d'ALENE - The North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force is seeking information leading to the apprehension of Aaron Richard Bujko.
Bujko is being sought based on two Bonner County felony warrants charging him with felony eluding an officer, driving without privileges, theft and felony probation violations.
He is on probation for grand theft and drug charges. This is a no-bond warrant with United States extradition.
Bujko is a white male, 31 years old, 6 feet tall, 195 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. Bujko was last known to be living in Priest River, Idaho.
The NIVCTF, consisting of members of the FBI, Idaho State Police, Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Coeur d'Alene Police Department, Post Falls Police Department, Idaho Department of Corrections and Bonner County Sheriff's Office, is tasked with locating and apprehending violent fugitives charged with such crimes as homicide, bank robbery, robbery, kidnapping, rape / sexual assault, felonious assault, arson, drug trafficking, etc.
Anyone with information regarding this subject or other fugitives being sought for violent crimes should call the NIVCTF at (208) 665-4455. The identity of callers will remain confidential and reward money may be available.
Toddler's death triggers felony charge
SANDPOINT - A criminal charge has been filed against a Bonner County woman whose child died after becoming trapped in a vehicle near Spirit Lake in June.
Samantha Renee Lewis, 23, is charged with injury to a child at the felony level. Lewis made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Tuesday. Judge Lori Meulenberg appointed a public defender to represent her, court records indicate.
Lewis, whose maiden name is Thompson, is free on her own recognizance while the case is pending. If convicted as charged, Lewis faces up to a year in jail or up to 10 years in prison.
A preliminary hearing in the case is pending. That hearing will determine whether there's enough evidence to bind Lewis over to 1st District Court to stand trial.
Bonner County sheriff's investigators were summoned to a home in the 100 block of Walden Lane north of Spirit Lake on June 11, after the 3-year-old boy was found unresponsive in a parked vehicle. Lewis attempted unsuccessfully to revive the boy, sheriff's officials have said.
Lewis and her boyfriend, both of whom worked late-night shifts, picked the boy up from daycare about 7 a.m., according to sheriff's officials. The mother put on a television program for the child to watch, but the child ended up going outside with his two dogs and entering the parked vehicle.
The boy was found around 12:45 p.m. Preliminary findings indicated that the child died of hyperthermia, although a formal cause of death is not yet listed in court documents. Police reports and probable cause affidavits have not yet been filed in the case.
The child's biological father was stationed at a U.S. Air Force base in Nevada when the boy died. The Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository indicates that Lewis was in the process of divorcing the father at the time of the death.
The criminal complaint alleges that Lewis placed the child in harm's way by going to sleep and leaving the child unattended "knowing the child's propensity to leave the house and wander."
Bonner County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.