Man jailed again in domestic violence case

COEUR d’ALENE — A man accused of choking a woman and breaking her nose on Thanksgiving is in jail for the third time.

Elmer J. Fuhr, 56, of Mesa, Ariz., is charged with domestic battery and attempted strangulation, both felonies.

He is also charged with violating a no contact order, a misdemeanor.

Police responded around 11 p.m. on Nov. 25 to a report of a domestic dispute at a Coeur d’Alene motel.

A woman who identified herself as Fuhr’s wife said Fuhr had attacked her in their shared room after an argument, pinning her to the bed and choking her.

She told police Fuhr punched her in the face multiple times and bit her hand.

She said she fought back, biting and head-butting Fuhr.

Her nose appeared to be broken, police said, and she had other visible injuries, including bruises on her neck and bite marks on one hand.

The motel room was in disarray, with blood on the floor, according to court documents.

Fuhr told police his wife had attacked him and he had defended himself.

His knuckles were swollen and he had scratch marks on his neck, according to court documents.

Police arrested Fuhr at the scene.

First District Judge John Cafferty ordered Friday that Fuhr be held on $30,000 bail.

Cafferty also issued a no contact order between Fuhr and his wife.

After Fuhr posted bail, his wife contacted police, saying Fuhr had repeatedly attempted to contacted her.

He called her 15 times after his release from jail, police said, and reportedly left messages threatening suicide.

Police arrested Fuhr for violating a no contact order. He posted $10,000 bail.

The following day, prosecutors asked a judge to revoke Fuhr’s original bond for violating the terms of his release. The terms included abiding by the no contact order.

Fuhr’s wife addressed the court via Zoom.

“I’m terrified of this man,” she said. “He tried to kill me.”

First District Judge Robert Caldwell ordered that Fuhr be remanded back into custody and held on $30,000 bail.

Fuhr posted bail again.

He called his wife again on Dec. 27, prosecutors said, violating the terms of the no contact order. He was reportedly out of state at the time.

Judge Lamont Berecz revoked Fuhr’s bond last week, issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.

Fuhr was taken into custody Monday.

Berecz ordered that Fuhr be held in custody until his arraignment, which is set for Feb. 17.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual abuse, call Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center’s 24-hour hotline: 208-664-9303.