Trooper named in Cougar Gulch manhunt
COEUR d’ALENE — The Idaho State Police trooper involved in an April 19 shooting that led to a manhunt in Cougar Gulch was identified on Friday as Cpl. Shane Grady.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, which is leading the investigation, Grady fired multiple times, but has not released specifically how many times.
The agency has also not released whether chase suspect J. Scott Salmond, 46, Riverside, Calif., had a gun or fired. He was arrested on April 22 in Spokane on probation violation charges.
Salmond is still being held at the Spokane County Jail, awaiting extradition to Kootenai County.
KCSO Lt. Stu Miller said the county prosecutor's office will review the case.
Grady remains on paid administrative leave per his agency’s policy, a KCSO press release states.
"We expect him back on duty next week," said ISP spokeswoman Teresa Baker.
He has been a member of the Idaho State Police for three years.
The release states Grady has been interviewed and is cooperating with the investigation.
A copy of the interview is not available for public dissemination yet due to the pending investigation, Miller said.
"Due to this being an ongoing and active investigation, further information is not being released at this time," the press release states.
Salmond allegedly rammed an ISP patrol car before fleeing on foot in Cougar Gulch.
He is accused of stealing a 2004 Kia Rio in downtown Coeur d'Alene on April 10. When Salmond drove under a license identification system on Interstate 90 that detects stolen vehicles on April 19, an ISP trooper chased him after he refused to stop, according to the KCSO.
Salmond drove southbound on U.S. 95 to the Mica Grade about 8 miles south of Coeur d’Alene.
The pursuit then went north on U.S. 95 to Cougar Gulch Road. After abandoning the car, Salmond fled into a forested area.
The search resulted in a multi-agency manhunt involving air and ground units, lasting throughout the night and next morning.
Salmond, who is on supervised probation for previous drug charges, fled a transitional housing facility in Coeur d'Alene before being arrested in Spokane, according to the KCSO.