Prosecutors say Coeur d’Alene officers involved in shooting behaved appropriately

Prosecutors have determined that three Coeur d’Alene Police officers acted appropriately during an exchange of gunfire that left an officer injured and a man dead earlier this year.

On Feb. 27, Officer Kelly Mongan pulled over Curtis Bradley Ware on a traffic violation, then attempted to serve Ware with an outstanding warrant. Officers Taylor Beach and Charles Hatley arrived as backup, but in the meantime, Ware drew a weapon, according to Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White.

Ware exchanged gunfire with the officers and Hatley was hit in the abdomen. Police returned fire and Ware was killed, White said in a news conference following the incident.

Police Capt. Dave Hagar of Coeur d’Alene said the incident was investigated by the Idaho State Police and forwarded to the Bonner County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure the process was independent and transparent. He said his department received a letter from the prosecutor’s office Tuesday notifying them that their actions were in accordance with lethal force provisions under Idaho state law.

Hagar said Hatley, who was in his third week of the first phase of the department’s training program when the incident occurred, has recovered and is back on full duty. He said he believes the testimony of both the officers involved, and the department was relieved when they received the letter.

“I think it gives them a sense of closure and validation, (knowing) that there actions were appropriate and necessary,” he said.

He added that the department would release body and dash camera footage from the incident to the media on Monday.