Firearms Display Spontaneous Bailiff’s Handgun Goes Off And Bullet Hits Jury Room Wall

A Bonner County bailiff startled people on the second floor of the courthouse Tuesday morning when he accidentally fired his 9mm handgun into a jury room wall.

Mark Johnson, the chief bailiff, was apparently showing his gun and explaining how it worked to Deputy Prosecutor Mike Rosenthal when the weapon went off. The bullet hit and stuck in a wall in a small jury room. The room is next to a courtroom where a hearing was in session.

“It just sounded like a pop,” said 1st District Court Judge James Michaud. “People in the courtroom heard the noise, but it didn’t stop the proceedings.”

The gun going off startled a few employees who came out of their offices to see what had happened. They found an embarrassed bailiff trying to explain the gunshot.

Michaud has requested the incident be investigated to see if any disciplinary action should be taken against Johnson. The bailiff has already submitted a statement to the judge explaining how the gun went off. Michaud declined to give any details, saying he was waiting for another statement from the deputy prosecutor who was the only other person in the room when the gun was fired.

“I don’t think we have any dispute of facts,” the judge said. “Mark (Johnson) has been quite candid in his report.”

The statements will be turned over to the chief bailiff in Kootenai County, Gomer Davis, to review. Davis will decide if any further investigation is needed and recommend any disciplinary action to the judge.

In the meantime, Michaud said the bailiff will continue his duties as normal, that includes carrying his duty weapon.

, DataTimes