Police: Woman driving stolen car also charged with robbery

COEUR d’ALENE — A woman arrested for allegedly driving a stolen car last month has now been accused of robbery.

Kathy K. Zimmerman, 39, of Pinehurst, is charged with robbery, a felony. In a separate case, she is also charged with felony possession of a stolen vehicle.

Police received reports March 18 that a stolen vehicle had been spotted in the area. Deputies with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office later pulled over a vehicle matching the description.

The car, a silver Hyundai Santa Fe with Illinois plates, was reportedly rented in Nebraska last year and never returned.

The driver, identified as Zimmerman, told police her boyfriend had rented the car in October 2020 and she did not know it was stolen.

In January, the man Zimmerman identified as her boyfriend contacted the rental company and said Zimmerman took the vehicle from him, according to court documents.

Zimmerman reportedly had no records to indicate the car was legally obtained. She was arrested at the scene.

Police said Zimmerman was also involved in a robbery that occurred March 17 at a supermarket.

Zimmerman told police a store employee caught her attempting to steal groceries. When the employee tried to stop her from leaving the scene, Zimmerman said she threatened to use a stun gun on him.

She reportedly pulled out an object that appeared to be a stun gun but was actually a battery charger before driving away.

Prosecutors did not file charges against Zimmerman in the robbery case until Friday.

Judge John Cafferty ordered last month that Zimmerman be held on $5,000 bail.

On Monday, Judge Mayli Walsh ordered that Zimmerman be held on $5,000 bail in the robbery case.

Zimmerman was reportedly arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle in Nebraska in 2019. The charge was later amended to attempting a class 4 felony, which is a misdemeanor, according to court documents.