Cougar Gulch manhunt suspect still at large
<p>Kootenai County sheriff's deputies block the intersection of Cougar Gulch Road and Meadowbrook Lane during a search for a man who allegedly stole a vehicle, assaulted a police officer and fled from the police in a chase that resulted in gunfire on Tuesday in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Spokane County's Air One helicopter scours the Cougar Gulch area on Tuesday for a man who allegedly led the police on a car chase that spurred gunfire and the suspect ramming an Idaho State Police vehicle.</p>
<p>A Kootenai County sheriff blocks Mica View Road on Tuesday morning after a man believed to have stolen a vehicle allegedly ran into an officer's vehicle at the bottom of the road. Searchers have been unsuccessful in locating the suspect.</p>
<p>A K-9 law enforcement unit walks back to its vehicle after scouring the hills for a man who ditched his allegedly stolen vehicle at Cougar Gulch Road on Tuesday.</p>
COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai County sheriff's deputies scoured the Cougar Gulch area Tuesday morning, seeking a man who allegedly rammed an Idaho State Police car during a car chase that resulted in gunfire.
KCSO Lt. Stu Miller said deputies still had not found the suspect as of noon, nor did they know who fired the gunshots that were reported during the car chase and four more shots that were reported later in the morning.
Miller said ISP officers
were dispatched to Interstate 90 to pursue an allegedly stolen 2004 Kia Rio that tripped the BOSS camera system. According to Post Falls Police, the same vehicle tripped the BOSS system on Monday but left the freeway before officers could find the car.
On Tuesday the vehicle fled when the officer attempted to stop it.
The chase led through Coeur d’Alene and south on Highway 95. The driver of the stolen vehicle eventually left the highway on the Mica grade following a private driveway that led to a residence.
Police said the driver turned around at the residence and sped back toward the highway.
Miller said the details of the chase were still fuzzy around 11 a.m., but somewhere along the way the driver of the stolen vehicle rammed the ISP officer’s vehicle and shots were fired.
“We just don't know who fired the shot yet,” Miller said, adding they were also uncertain as to who fired four more shots that were reported in the Two Springs Road area around 10:30 a.m.
Miller said the suspect eventually abandoned his vehicle in the 5000 block of Cougar Gulch Road and fled on foot.
Deputies deployed K-9 units to track the suspect, and called in Spokane County’s Air One helicopter to join the search.
As of 1 p.m., Cougar Gulch Road and Meadowbrook Loop were restricted to local residents during the search, which had already lasted more than six hours. Searchers have been unsuccessful in locating the suspect.
The suspect is described as a male, possibly in his 30s, wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt. If anyone has information regarding this incident, they are asked to contact the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 446-1300. Law enforcement will remain in the area throughout the day and evening.
Residents in the area of Cougar Gulch as well as travelers in the area are cautioned to be on the lookout for the suspect. If anyone sees a suspicious person, please report it.