Theft suspect flees after officer injured at CdA Casino

Police are looking for a man who injured an officer outside the Coeur d’Alene Casino today while fleeing in a stolen Toyota 4Runner. A Coeur d’Alene Tribal police officer injured his arm when he was dragged a short distance before he let go of the driver’s door, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department. The officer had contacted the man after casino employees told him he’d tried to use a stolen credit card. The man gave the officer the credit card and an identification card before the officer realized the car had been reported stolen and asked him to step out. The driver instead began to move forward slowly as the officer repeatedly asked him to stop. The white, early 90s 4Runner was last seen westbound on state Highway 58. The rear license plate is 24KGOLD and the front license plate is B07800L, both from Washington state. Kootenai County sheriff’s Major Ben Wolfinger said authorities are working to identify the man by reviewing the identification he handed them and comparing it to surveillance video. But if the man had a stolen credit card, he may have had a stolen identification card. But, Wolfinger said, “We think we know who it is.” The officer, whose name has not been released, was transported to Kootenai Medical Center with an arm injury. Anyone with information is asked to call local police or the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 446-1300