Man accused of fleeing after drunk crash

COEUR d’ALENE — A man who was previously convicted of six felonies is being held on $100,000 bail after police said he beat his wife, hit a parked car while driving drunk and fled the scene.

Sean P. Kennedy, 45, of Post Falls, is charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident, both misdemeanors, as well as felony domestic battery.

Police responded late Tuesday night to a report of a hit and run in a residential area of Coeur d’Alene. A sedan allegedly hit a parked vehicle and then sped off, leaving behind a piece of the taillight and a side mirror.

The driver of the sedan, identified as Kennedy, was later found attempting to drive out of a snowbank near his Post Falls residence, according to court documents.

Kennedy’s wife told police he demanded that she drive him to the store to purchase alcohol around 2:30 p.m. She said Kennedy bought and consumed a six-pack of beer, then told her to drive him to another store, where he bought more alcohol.

When she refused to drive Kennedy to a third store, he allegedly hit her in the face until she agreed, court records state.

Later, the woman said, Kennedy grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the face. He then allegedly forced her to pull over and let him drive.

Kennedy allegedly continued to hit the woman while driving erratically. The woman said she exited the vehicle when Kennedy pulled over, but later got back in, after which Kennedy allegedly ripped out a chunk of her hair.

She told police Kennedy pulled into a driveway on a residential street and began punching her again. He then allegedly backed up and collided with a parked car, then sped off and hit a trash can.

Kennedy agreed to let the woman drive, court documents state. She drove to a gas station, jumped out of the vehicle and ran inside, where she told an employee to call 911. Kennedy drove away before police arrived.

After he was detained by police, Kennedy allegedly provided breath samples of .19 and .17. In Idaho, drivers with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more are considered legally impaired.

Police arrested Kennedy at the scene.

Kennedy was previously convicted of six separate felony offenses in Missouri between 2000 and 2013, including possession of a controlled substance, forgery and conspiracy to distribute meth.

Judge Daniel McGee ordered Wednesday that Kennedy be held on $100,000 bail and issued a no contact order between Kennedy and his wife.