Coeur d’Alene police warn of possible drugged drinks in local bars

The Coeur d’Alene Police department is warning the public that several people – both men and women – have reported feeling drugged after drinking at local bars.

The calls came from people who reported feeling very drunk very fast even though they hadn’t had much to drink, said Det. Jared Reneau. While the department has only received a handful of reports in the past couple of weeks, there could be more that never called police, he said.

The drugs typically slipped into drinks metabolize quickly and aren’t detectable the next day, Reneau said. “We don’t have anything to follow up on,” he said.

Police have met with local bar owners to talk about the issue. Reneau said they were asked to keep a close eye on what’s going on inside their bars and to watch for suspicious people.

People going out for the Fourth of July weekend should go with a group of trusted friends, not leave their drinks unattended and be wary of any drink that’s blue or suddenly tastes bitter, police say. People can also keep their hand covering their drink or order bottled beer to reduce the chances of drink tampering.

Reneau said it’s possible that the woman found unconscious in a parking lot outside a Coeur d’Alene bar near Fifth Street and Poplar Avenue last week may have been drugged, but they’re waiting for test results to confirm it.

“Somebody may have slipped something into her drink,” he said, “but that’s not confirmed.”

There was evidence that the woman may have been sexually assaulted. The investigation is ongoing, Reneau said.