‘A vehicle is a deadly weapon’: Idaho man faces several charges in multicrash incident
A Hayden man was booked into Kootenai County Jail on Saturday after allegedly intentionally ramming his vehicle into a car at a drive-thru, striking several other vehicles and resisting arrest.
The 41-year-old man is facing charges of aggravated assault, DUI refusal and resisting arrest, according to a news release issued Sunday by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred at around 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Lancaster Market at Lancaster Avenue and U.S. 95 in Hayden. Deputies said they arrived at the scene and observed the suspect’s vehicle in a ditch along Lancaster Avenue, with the engine still revving.
The man reportedly refused to get out of the vehicle or follow any commands, authorities said. To keep the suspect from causing any more crashes, he was removed from the vehicle, and according to the sheriff’s office report, he continued to resist and fight law enforcement personnel. He was eventually taken into custody.
The city of Hayden did not have any deputies working at the time of this incident, and Undersheriff Brett Nelson, who was attending a community event, heard the call and was one of the first on scene, said Sheriff Bob Norris on Sunday.
“I’m thankful that Undersheriff Nelson’s quick response helped in bringing the assault to an end,” Norris told The Press. “A vehicle is a deadly weapon, and we are fortunate nobody was killed or critically injured in this incident.”
The investigation revealed that the suspect had pulled into the Lancaster Market parking lot and struck several cars.
“In reviewing video surveillance, it showed that (he) struck one vehicle, with a family of four inside, intentionally several times while they were in the drive-thru,” said the release.
Those who were injured in the incident were treated and released at the scene.
“My heart goes out to the family, the three children who were in the truck, during the suspect’s assault,” Norris said.
The suspect has two prior DUI arrests in Kootenai County dating back to 2004.