Sheriff finds stolen vehicle

DALTON GARDENS — Ben Wolfinger may be retiring later this year, but he’s still hard at work.

The Kootenai County Sheriff was driving on Dalton Avenue east of Government Way about 9:10 a.m. Friday and saw a black Nissan Pathfinder almost collide head-on with another vehicle and swerve into the bike lane. Wolfinger stopped the vehicle, which was occupied by six people.

One of the occupants fled from the vehicle into Dalton Gardens. The others were detained on a high-risk stop as the vehicle was learned to be stolen out of Spokane, a press release said.

The driver, a 16-year-old male, was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, DUI drugs, frequenting a place with drugs, runaway juvenile, and a petit theft warrant.

Two 16-year-old female passengers were released to a parent after being charged with frequenting a place with drugs, the release said.

A 16-year-old female was arrested for habitual runaway and frequenting a place with drugs.

Jacob Kaiser, a 21-year-old male, was cited and released for injury to child and frequenting a place with drugs. The front seat passenger who ran from the vehicle was identified as a 16-year-old male. He will be charged with frequenting a place with drugs and resisting/obstructing, the release said.

Through the investigation, it was learned the five juveniles, Kaiser, and an unknown adult male were partying all night in a Coeur d’Alene hotel room, which was rented by Kaiser. Several of them admitted to using illicit drugs while in the hotel room, according to the press release. The room was checked by law enforcement and no other drugs were found.