Man accused of raping girlfriend

COEUR d’ALENE — A man is in jail after police said he raped his girlfriend and then attempted to run her off the road when she tried to flee.

Jedidiah M. Heath, 31, is charged with rape and aggravated assault, both felonies. His bail was set at $250,000.

Police responded Nov. 13 to a parking lot in Coeur d’Alene. A woman who identified herself as Heath’s girlfriend said the pair had argued the night before. When she was in the shower, she said, Heath grabbed her by the neck and pinned her against the wall.

The altercation later continued into the bedroom, she said, where Heath dragged her across the room by her hair, forcibly undressed her and raped her.

The next day, the woman asked a friend to pick her up and drive her to a family member’s residence. The woman’s friend told police Heath attempted to block her car in the driveway using his own car, then followed at a close distance.

The friend said Heath repeatedly swerved toward her vehicle. She pulled into a parking lot because she saw law enforcement in the area, according to court documents.

Police contacted and detained Heath, who reportedly said he had followed the woman and her friend. He told police he had threatened to ram the other car but denied actually attempting to do so, according to police reports.

Heath also allegedly said he and the woman had argued but denied raping her, according to court documents.

Police arrested Heath.

Judge James Combo ordered that Heath be held on $250,000 bail and issued a no contact order between Heath and the woman.