Man files lawsuit over 2003 arrest

Fri., June 10, 2005

Compiled from staff reports The Spokesman-Review

Sandpoint A 19-year-old Sandpoint man is suing the Sandpoint City Police, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Department, the Bonner County Jail and related officers in federal court for alleged civil rights violations stemming from a 2003 arrest.

Jeremiah C.S. Watson was at the intersection of Fifth and Cedar streets in Sandpoint at about 10 p.m. May 30, 2003, when he was pulled over by a Sandpoint officer. The officer said Watson suddenly pulled in front of him, crossed three lanes, and then hit a street curb as he turned onto Fifth Avenue. When the officer pulled Watson over, he conducted field sobriety tests, which Watson failed, and subsequently arrested Watson, according to court documents.

In his lawsuit, Watson said he was arrested without probable cause, that his vehicle was searched without probable cause and that he was taken to an adult instead of a juvenile facility. Watson passed a breath test for alcohol and was forced to give a urine sample twice because the first one tested negative for drugs, he claims. Officers told him his second test was positive for drugs, according to his complaint.

Watson was charged with DUI, but the charges were soon dropped by the city prosecutor, who could not be reached for comment. Watson is suing in federal district court for $2 million in damages.

Both the city police chief and Bonner County Sheriff said they had not seen the complaint, but Sandpoint Police Chief Mark Lockwood said the city used a drug recognition expert employed by the county during the arrest.

Meetings offer 5-year look at Bunker Hill site

The Bunker Hill Superfund Site has received its five-year checkup and the public is invited to learn the prognosis at five open houses scheduled for next week.

“We’re taking a comprehensive look at the site to make sure the cleanup is protecting the people and the environment,” said Andrea Lindsay, EPA’s community involvement coordinator.

The EPA’s drafted Five-Year Review of the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Complex Superfund site is a 500-page document that is available on the Internet at http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/ cleanup.nsf/bh/five+year+reviews.

Three open houses are scheduled Wednesday: 11 a.m. at the Rose Lake Historical Society, 22935 King St. in Cataldo; 2:30 p.m. at the Wallace Inn, 100 Front St. in Wallace; and 6 p.m. at the Sunnyside Elementary School gymnasium, 790 Bunker Ave. in Kellogg.

Two meetings are scheduled Thursday: 1 p.m. in the Driftwood Bay Room of North Idaho College’s Student Union Building, 1000 W. Garden Ave. in Coeur d’Alene; and 6 p.m. in Room 140, Spokane Regional Health District, 1101 W. College Ave., Spokane.

For information on library locations of the review, call Lindsay at (800) 424-4372, ext. 1896.

CdA bar’s poker run benefits charities, arts

Owners of Grandma’s Backyard Barbecue in Coeur d’Alene have organized a poker run on June 25 to raise money for Anchor House, Project Safe Place and the Art on the Edge program.

Participation costs $10 and starts at Grandma’s, located at 19th and Sherman Avenue. Check-in is from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Participants will decide which charity to play for, then drive to four other bars in Kootenai County, collecting a card at each site, and vie for the best poker hand.

Other bars participating are the Linger Longer Lounge in Spirit Lake, One Eye in Rathdrum, Cruisers in Post Falls and Twelve Ten Tavern in Coeur d’Alene. Players will return to Grandma’s by 7 p.m. The person with the best poker hand will win half the entry fees. The rest will go to the charities as well as any money raised in a raffle.

For information, call 664-4491.

Special needs camp accepting registrations

Registration is under way for a summer day camp for children with special needs.

Specialized Needs Recreation’s Camp All-Stars is weekdays June 20 through Aug. 12 at Fernan Elementary. Camp is for ages 4-21.

The camp includes activities and field trips throughout Kootenai County. Transportation is provided. The cost is $10 per day, and scholarships are available.

For information or to register a child, contact Angie Goucher at (208) 755-6781 or (208) 769-2317.

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