Alleged stabber charged, but he's hurting, too

COEUR d’ALENE — A Coeur d’Alene man accused of stabbing another man four times with a folding knife is in the Kootenai County Jail on a $100,000 bond facing charges of aggravated battery and possession of methamphetamine, both felonies.

Edward W. Reinke, 55, appeared in First District Court Monday afternoon wearing a long, black, quilted coat with no sleeves. He complained to the court about injuries he had sustained in an earlier altercation.

The altercation, a knife fight on East Sherman Avenue the previous evening, left four stab wounds in 55-year-old Shawn Orton, including one in his back that was almost 4 inches deep, according to a police report.

Orton was treated at Kootenai Health for stab wounds in his right bicep, lower right abdomen, under his left arm and on his back, according to a report.

He told police he got into an argument with Reinke around 8 p.m. Sunday “that was not drug related” on the 1200 block of Sherman Avenue and that he hoped “(Reinke) pays for it in hell.”

Reinke was arrested after midnight without incident by Coeur d’Alene police several blocks away while crossing Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive near East Sherman Avenue.

Police seized a large, fixed-blade belt knife as well as a Camillus folding knife that Reinke carried, along with a bindle of methamphetamine.

His injuries, including a deep “to the bone” cut to his hand from having the folding knife close after he stabbed the victim several times, according to a witness, prevented Reinke from using a pen to fill out a request for an attorney. Magistrate Clark Peterson said he would make arrangements for a scribner.

In the meantime, Peterson appointed a public defender for Reinke, whose previous felonies include drug and burglary convictions spanning four states including Washington, Montana and Florida.

Deputy prosecutor Wendy Gabriel asked for a high bond amount because the four felonies may result in an additional frequent offender charge, which could increase the possible sentence to life in prison.

Peterson set a preliminary hearing in 14 days.