Suspect Shot After Deputies Say Gun Pulled

A burglary suspect was shot and injured by Bonner County sheriff’s deputies Monday night after he apparently drew a gun on the officers.

Rex Alan Prewitt, 42, of Dover, was shot while sheriff’s deputies were attempting to talk to him about an attempted burglary, according to the sheriff’s department.

Prewitt is being treated at Bonner General Hospital for gunshot wounds, which are not life-threatening.

He’s expected to be released sometime this week, then make a first appearance in District Court on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

The sheriff’s department did not release information on Prewitt, and the court records from Tuesday’s probable cause hearing were sealed.

Prewitt is being held on a $500,000 bond. He has no prior criminal record in Bonner County.

Prewitt is a suspect in a 10 p.m. attempted burglary of Snowriver Sheepskin in downtown Sandpoint.

Owner Dennis Coats was at the business when he found someone trying to break a side window to the store with a hammer or a small axe, Coats said. Coats yelled at the man and wrote down his license plate number as the man fled.

Coats then called 911 and gave dispatchers the license number. Deputies tracked down a man at a residence on Wild Turkey Lane west of Dover.

Deputies attempted to make contact with Prewitt at approximately 11:30 p.m. That’s when Prewitt reportedly pulled a gun and was shot by two deputies. The officers were not injured.

The sheriff’s department called in Sandpoint Police to independently investigate the incident.

Police were at the scene until 1:25 a.m.

Sheriff’s officials are not releasing further details of the shooting until their investigation is complete.