Special Prosecutor Will Review Reports

A special prosecutor will consider whether allegations of a deputy public defender’s tangle with police support criminal charges.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas has asked Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson to review police reports of the Feb. 27 incident. Those reports allege Chuck Sheroke, a Kootenai County deputy public defender, lunged at Coeur d’Alene police officer Pete Atkins with a raised fist.

The alleged incident happened while Atkins was arresting one of Sheroke’s clients.

Sheroke has denied wrongdoing, saying Atkins shoved him first. The attorney, who was not arrested, said officers were denying him access to his client.

Deputy Prosecutor Rick Baughman is a potential witness in the case should Robinson choose to file charges.

It was not known how long Robinson would need to review the case before making a decision. A call to his office was not returned.

, DataTimes