Police: Guards who helped drag woman from Coeur d’Alene event should be charged

Officers have recommended criminal charges for the private security guards who helped drag a woman by her arms out of a Republican town hall in Coeur d’Alene and battered other people at the February event, according to newly released police reports. A member of the public shown on video helping the security team also faces charges.

The mayhem that spurred nationwide headlines began after Teresa Borrenpohl was booing and loudly commenting to lawmakers speaking at the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee event held at Coeur d’Alene High School. Then-unidentified men in black jackets grabbed her, pulled her to the floor and dragged her out as she screamed, video shows.

 The men, who at the time refused to say who they were, were working as private security officers for Lear Asset Management, a California company formed in 2012 that gained publicity for its raids on illegal marijuana grows in Mendocino County.

The five Lear employees — Paul Trouette, Alexander Trouette, Christofer Berg, Russell Dunne and Jesse Jones — are considered suspects in the criminal investigation into the town hall after police allege they touched or physically removed Borrenpohl and several other attendees, according to reports released Wednesday on the Coeur d’Alene Police Department website.

 Lear did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

Meanwhile, despite Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris physically engaging with two people at the event, he is not considered a suspect, according to the police reports — only an “involved” party. Investigators wrote that he declined an interview through his attorney. 

Norris was poised to face an independent investigation into his conduct after the town hall to see if his actions violated any policy. Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jeff Howard said Wednesday he was told by Norris’ attorney not to release the identity of the agency conducting the investigation. 

Norris’ attorney, Kinzo Mihara, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. 

Police also recommended a battery charge against Michael Keller, who officers say inserted himself into the altercation and pushed Borrenpohl’s friend. Keller also had a firearm at the time, reports say, so police recommended charging him with possessing a weapon on school property.

Coeur d’Alene Chief Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Hunter said in an email Wednesday that he received the investigation reports last Friday and they are pending review. He didn’t have an estimate on when the review would be finished. 

Police: Security didn’t wear badges identifying themselves 

Investigators recommended several battery and false imprisonment charges against the men for allegedly grabbing and restraining Borrenpohl, the man sitting next to her other attendees. Police listed Alexander Trouette only as an accessory, as there is no footage of him touching or removing anyone, according to the reports.

The spark that led to the fracas was when Borrenpohl shouted, “Is this a town hall, or a lecture?” at the emcee.

Norris confronted her, identified himself and told her to leave or she would be escorted out. When she didn’t comply, video shows Norris grabbed her arms and tried to pull her from her chair.

 In videos of the altercation, Borrenpohl is heard saying, “Please don’t touch me” to which Norris responds, “Do you want pepper spray? Let’s go.”

 Norris then gestures to the security team. The men walk over and grab Borrenpohl, telling her to cooperate as Norris stood by, seen holding his phone as if he’s recording video.

According to witness footage, Borrenpohl can be heard screaming repeatedly, “Who are these men?” and, “Who are these guys?” as one man told her to cooperate. 

Both men then pull her to the floor and grab her by her arms and legs. The men roll her over and drag her by her arms out the door as she continued to ask people who the men are, the video shows. 

Police wrote in reports the security members were wearing tactical-type pants and long-sleeved black jackets with no security markings or badges that would indicate they were security, which is a violation of city code. Lear’s license to operate within the city was revoked because of that violation.

Read the full story from Idaho Statesman here.