Businessman released from jail hours after felony arrest, records show

Hours after sheriff's deputies arrested a prominent area businessman who allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a stranger during an argument, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris ordered his release from jail, according to public records.

Doug Parker, the 84-year-old founder of Parker Toyota, was arrested and booked into jail Feb. 27 on a charge of aggravated assault, a felony. He's expected to plead guilty this month to reduced charges. 

Deputies with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office responded around 12:40 p.m. to Poleline Avenue and N. Bighorn Road in Post Falls after Spokane resident Raymond Rodriguez called 911. 

Rodriguez, 23, said he had met his brother and a friend in the area to ride their motorcycles. He parked his truck in a ditch off the road near a field. 

"We rode over in that spot every weekend," he said. 

Rodriguez said he noticed a white Toyota Tundra with a distinctive license plate parked in the field. While he was unloading his motorcycle, he said the Tundra came "nose to nose" with his own truck. 

Police later identified the driver as Parker, who allegedly rolled down the window and shouted at Rodriguez to move his truck.

Rodriguez said he declined to leave because the landowner had permitted him to ride there. 

Parker allegedly exited his truck with a gun, which Rodriguez said he unholstered to reveal a rustic-looking revolver with an "almost black" barrel and wooden grips. 

"He grabbed a gun and put it to my chest," Rodriguez said. 

When Parker told him again to move his truck, Rodriguez said he complied. Then Parker sped away. 

Rodriguez's brother and friend were riding their dirt bikes during the altercation and didn't witness it, according to court records, but told police that Rodriguez was in "a state of shock" afterward. The friend told police he had seen Parker's truck earlier and saw the man walking his dog. 

Deputies identified Parker through his license plate. When police contacted him at his Post Falls home, Parker said he'd been running his dogs in the area where the incident occurred for almost 50 years. 

"Those kids go out there and ride those motorcycles and just tear the s--t out of the thing," he told police, according to court records. 

Parker said he approached Rodriguez, whom he described as "a pretty nice kid," and told him to move his truck because it was blocking his way out of the field. He said Rodriguez initially refused, then complied. 

He admitted to holding his gun during the interaction, according to court records, though he denied removing it from its case or pointing it at Rodriguez. 

Police examined the gun, which was in a case on the Tundra's front passenger seat. Court records say the gun had a "blued" finish and wooden grips. It contained six unspent rounds. 

When a deputy asked how Rodriguez could have accurately described the gun if Parker never drew it, Parker "changed his story" and said he took the gun out of the case upon exiting the truck. He denied unholstering or pointing the weapon. 

Deputies arrested Parker for aggravated assault and transported him to the Kootenai County jail, where he was booked "without incident" after 2 p.m. 

Jail records show he was released at 5:22 p.m. 

A handwritten note across Parker's pre-booking information sheet said he was released and would be charged via complaint, "per 2100." 

A source familiar with KCSO's operations confirmed that 2100 is Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris's call sign. The note on the pre-booking sheet indicates that Norris directed Parker's release, the source said. 

It's unclear how Norris became aware of Parker's arrest.  

"The sheriff, to his knowledge, has never met Mr. Doug Parker," KCSO said in an emailed statement. 

Parker's attorney, Joshua Hanners, declined to comment on his client's release from jail or his connection with the sheriff. Parker could not be reached directly for comment.

In Idaho, unless a defendant is charged with a capital crime, a judge must set bail or release the defendant on their own recognizance. For specific misdemeanor and traffic offenses, Idaho courts use a standard bail schedule, though judges can modify bail amounts or designate a bond schedule for offenses not explicitly listed. 

Safa Riadh, an attorney based in Coeur d'Alene, said people arrested on felony charges generally must appear before a judge the next business day. At that first appearance, the judge considers factors like the details of the alleged offense, any prior criminal history and a defendant's ties to the community when deciding on bail. 

"I've never seen somebody booked on a felony get out before their initial appearance," Riadh said. 

Ben Wolfinger, who served two terms as sheriff in Kootenai County, said that, without a warrant, police can exercise discretion in deciding whether to arrest someone. But once someone is arrested on a felony charge and booked into jail, he said he wouldn't expect an inmate to be released without first seeing a judge. 

"By law, the sheriff doesn't have the authority to say, 'Oh, you're a good guy, you can go,'" Wolfinger said. 

Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Stan Mortensen said the sheriff and his deputies can undo an arrest their agency made that didn't result from a warrant, even after the individual is booked into jail. 

"That's because the sheriff is charged with keeping the jail," he said. "It would be different if the Coeur d'Alene Police Department, for example, makes an arrest. I don't think the sheriff or his deputies can undo what another agency does." 

Mortensen said an agency might undo an arrest for different reasons, such as wanting to use an individual as a confidential informant or because of concerns about an inmate's health. 

"High liability risk inmates have been a concern for sheriff's office officials in the past," KCSO said in an emailed statement to The Press. 

In Parker's case, KCSO said Norris consulted with Mortensen about the arrest. Considering Parker's age and lack of criminal history, as well as "the low assessed risk to public safety and the responsible allocation of jail beds and other resources, the decision was made to present the case to the prosecutor's office for consideration." 

Though Mortensen said he can't comment on a pending case, he said county officials sometimes reach out to his office for legal advice. 

"All my office does is give advice," he said. "The decisions are made by the department officials." 

According to KCSO, the agency pursues "alternative forms of incarceration for inmates who pose a low risk to public safety and have significant health problems requiring expensive medical care." 

Parker's medical screening responses were redacted. Other records indicate that he didn't arrive at the jail with any prescription medications, nor did he take any during his brief stay. 

He told jail staff he could stand, sit, walk and climb stairs unassisted and that he had no "handicaps" requiring special housing considerations, according to jail records. Deputies handcuffed his arms in front of him due to "previous shoulder issues and blood pressure." 

A week after Parker's arrest, county prosecutors charged him via complaint with aggravated assault and an enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime. He received a summons to appear in court. 

In July, Parker signed a pretrial settlement offer in which he agreed to plead guilty to battery and aiming a firearm at another, both misdemeanors punishable by up to six months in jail. The aggravated assault charge and enhancement were dismissed. 

Parker is scheduled to plead guilty under an Alford plea and receive his sentence Nov. 24. By entering an Alford plea, he won't admit guilt but will acknowledge there is enough evidence to convict him at trial. 

Rodriguez said he's been in the dark about the plea deal and isn't sure how he feels about it. 

"It's his own egg to fry," Rodriguez said, referring to Parker. "It was unfortunate what happened."