Latest news with #AdaCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho lawmakers have ‘targeted' Boise, mayor says. She's pushing back
At a Monday-night Bernie Sanders rally in Nampa, the crowd roared its approval when a speaker alluded to Boise Mayor Lauren McLean's decision to keep flying an LGBTQ+ Pride flag outside of City Hall — despite a new state law banning the display of non-'official' flags. But McLean's move prompted a letter of rebuke from the state's attorney general and an influx of complaints to the Ada County Sheriff's Office. McLean told the Idaho Statesman that the city would not take down the Pride flag because the law's lack of an enforcement provision meant that flying it 'is not a crime.' 'That flag, we've flown for nearly a decade. It has not been an issue in Boise,' McLean told the Statesman on Thursday. 'In fact, it is beloved in Boise, because it is a symbol of how we put people first, and everyone in this community matters.' Days after the law took effect, the city also hung a second unofficial — and therefore illegal — flag at City Hall in honor of organ donation month, displaying the flags prominently on social media. McLean acknowledged that the city had received letters from Attorney General Raul Labrador and Sheriff Matt Clifford. Clifford's admonished lawmakers for passing a bill without 'clear direction' for enforcement and said his staff was struggling to handle the volume of residents' complaints about the flag. 'We're taking (the letters) into consideration and analysis,' McLean said. But 'at the end of the day, they, too, were clear that this law isn't enforceable, and it's not a crime.' The flags have become a flashpoint amid the longstanding tension between the heavily Democratic city and overwhelmingly Republican state Legislature. Labrador told McLean in his letter that lawmakers were already discussing adding enforcement provisions to the law next year. McLean has also pushed back, to varying degrees, against other bills this year that, she said, specifically targeted Boise. After Gov. Brad Little signed into law a bill to ban homeless encampments in large Idaho cities, McLean's office released a statement repeatedly referring to it as 'the Galloway law,' referring to sponsor Sen. Codi Galloway, R-Boise. On Thursday, McLean used the same language, seeking to distance the city from the law, which will require Boise police to double down on patrolling homeless encampments rather than focusing on the other initiatives, such as ticketing speeding drivers, that Boise residents have sought, she said. 'I want to be clear on that one,' she said. 'Boiseans have demonstrated time and time again that we're not going to make the mistakes of other cities. We're going to collaborate, we're going to innovate, we're going to partner to come up with long-term solutions to prevent and end homelessness. This bill doesn't help us do that.' Lawmakers for years have been at odds with Boise leaders over the city's approach to homelessness, affordable housing and transit, among other issues. Though lawmakers often express support for the idea of 'local control,' they have increasingly sought to curtail local governments' powers, limiting local increases to property taxes or minimum wages, and blocking cities from banning plastic bags, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. On Tuesday, Jamie Heinzerling, the director of the city clerk's office, offered to speed up a presentation she was giving to Boise's City Council about the effects of a new state law moving responsibility for child care licensing in the state's hands. Boise, along with several other Idaho cities, does its own licensing and has held city day cares to a more stringent standard than what the state requires. McLean urged Heinzerling to take her time explaining the implications of the law, including laying out the locally popular initiatives to increase child care access that it would end. 'Oh, you don't need to talk fast,' McLean said, to laughter. 'The public needs to understand.' She told the Statesman that 'it's very important that we're transparent about the good work we are doing to deliver for our residents, particularly when that is taken away by new bills in the Legislature.' 'I don't want Boiseans to think that Boise doesn't care about licensing and we're just giving it up,' she added. 'I want to be clear that this is not our decision.' Boise is still flying Pride flag. Citing new law, Idaho AG sends warning letter 'It's a dire time': Bernie Sanders, AOC draw 12,000-plus to Idaho rally 'Trapped here in hell': Boiseans, officials say camping-ban bill won't help homelessness
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boise-area sheriff criticizes a new Idaho law he says police can't enforce
Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford on Wednesday criticized a new law that bans the city of Boise from flying Pride flags, saying it was unclear how police could enforce it as written. The law, originally House Bill 96, limits governments to flying certain flags, including the American flag, the Idaho flag, military flags and flags representing government entities. The legislation went into effect April 3, but the city of Boise has kept its Pride flag up, prompting a warning letter from the Idaho Attorney General's Office. Many people also reported the city to the Ada County Sheriff's Office, Clifford said in a statement emailed to the Idaho Statesman. After the public complaints, Clifford asked his legal team to review the new code, he said. But the lawyers found that there are no penalties, no information about what level of crime is involved (misdemeanor or felony, for example) and no explanation as to how an officer would enforce the law, the statement said. 'Without clear direction in the law, no law enforcement in the state of Idaho has the authority to issue citations or make arrests in this situation,' Clifford said. 'This situation highlights the importance of thoughtful collaboration in the legislative process. I strongly urge Idaho legislators to work closely with subject matter experts when drafting legislation to ensure that future statutes are clearly enforceable and contain the necessary legal structure to support their implementation.' Bill sponsor Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, did not immediately return a request for comment. Clifford sent a letter to the city of Boise similar to his public statement. He also indicated that the volume of flag complaints has been burdensome for his department. 'These messages have come in through nearly every channel available to the public — Ada County Dispatch, patrol supervisors, our social media accounts, and our general public inbox,' Clifford said. 'Responding to these concerns has placed a strain on our staff and resources, pulling attention away from other essential duties.' Clifford's message struck a very different tone from Attorney General Raúl Labrador's letter, which said Boise could lose state money if it continues to fly the Pride flag. Labrador also said he had spoken with legislative leaders who said they 'will respond next session with strong enforcement tools.' However, his letter also highlighted the lack of penalties, with Labrador writing that the law 'relied on the good will of elected officials for its enforcement.' 'While we are sorting out the reach and impact of HB 96 — which includes neither definitions nor enforcement mechanisms, we will continue to fly the flags currently on display at City Hall,' Boise spokesperson Emilee Ayers told the Statesman. During this year's legislative session, no one testified or debated about the bill's enforcement mechanisms. However, a couple lawmakers did express concern with the lack of definitions in the bill, such as not defining what a flag is. 'There's always going to be some interpretation of law and we're going to have to say what's a sign and what's a flag. That's the only interpretation that's going to have to be determined,' said the bill's Senate floor sponsor, Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d'Alene, during debate. 'Other than that, it's very definitive.'
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Felony suspect rams Boise police car, eludes authorities in high-speed chase
The Ada County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man accused of ramming a Boise Police Department vehicle and leading authorities on a high-speed chase through Ada County early Friday morning. Boise police officers responded to a call related to a 'problem subject' at around 3 a.m., according to an Instagram post from the Sheriff's Office. Erik Enriques, who is wanted on a felony probation violation warrant, was located on the 600 block of Pearl Street in Boise at around 4 a.m. Enriques rammed the police vehicle with a car and fled, police said, and a pursuit ensued. Multiple attempts were made to stop Enriques by Boise, Meridian and Kuna police, as well as Ada County sheriff's deputies. The Sheriff's Office took over pursuit once Enriques traveled into Kuna. 'The suspect drove recklessly and at a high rate of speed through closed roads and construction zones before abandoning his vehicle in the area of Kay Ave. and Ardell Rd.,' according to a Facebook post. Authorities attempted to find Enriques using police dogs, drones and specialized units, and a CodeRed emergency notification was issued to residents in the surrounding area. Local schools also were notified. As of 6 p.m. Friday, Enriques still had not been located. Anyone with information regarding Enriques is asked to contact Ada County nonemergency dispatch at 208-377-6790.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Man strikes Tesla counter-protester with vehicle in Idaho, police say
A man was charged with aggravated assault after allegedly striking a counter-protester with his vehicle outside a Tesla dealership in Idaho on Saturday, law enforcement said. Tesla vehicles and dealerships have in recent weeks become targets for vandalism and protests, as the carmaker's chief executive, Elon Musk, has taken on a prominent and divisive role in President Donald Trump's second administration. MORE: Attorney general calls Tesla arson attacks 'nothing short of domestic terrorism' About 30 people attended an anti-Tesla rally on Saturday outside a dealership in Meridian, Idaho, a gathering that drew a counter-protest of about 200 others, the Meridian Police Department said in a press release. As a 49-year-old man arrived at the rally, Christopher Talbot, 70, of Meridian, allegedly "made an obscene gesture" toward him and then struck him with his car, police said. Officials identified the man who was struck as a counter-protester, saying he had non-life-threatening injuries and that he drove himself to a nearby hospital. "Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car," police said. The license plate from Talbot's vehicle was used by the police to find his home address, where he was later arrested. Talbot was booked into Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, a felony, according to the Ada County Sheriff's Office. "The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence," the police department said in a statement. An anti-Musk group had called for a series of "Tesla Takedown" protests to be held on Saturday at dealerships throughout the country, including the one in Meridian. Man strikes Tesla counter-protester with vehicle in Idaho, police say originally appeared on
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
Man stabbed 2 K9 dogs. Ada deputies, Boise police were ‘legally justified' killing him
Last January, Jeremiah Gaver told police that he thought they'd kill him. He was pursued after an Ada County sheriff's deputy saw him looking into backyards and walking around businesses, all while wearing a tarp, according to the Meridian Police Department, which led the Critical Incident Task Force investigation into the shooting. Law enforcement assured him that he was going to be OK, the report said. Gaver kept saying he didn't want to die, according to the report. 'No, no one's gonna shoot ya. Stop saying that, OK?' was one of the responses from law enforcement. But after he didn't comply with a host of commands and questions 'for almost a half hour,' according to a news release Wednesday from the Ada County Sheriff's Office, and then stabbed two K9 dogs in the course of avoiding police who had tasers and a bean bag shotgun, five law enforcement officers opened fire. Gaver, 37, died at the scene. Meridian police turned their CITF investigation over to Owyhee County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Topmiller, whose legal review determined that none of the five officers should be charged. 'Based on this comprehensive assessment, I find that the deputies' actions in shooting Gaver were legally justified under Idaho law,' Topmiller wrote in a letter to Ada County. Deputy Colton McKone initially tried to make contact with Gaver, the report said. Gaver didn't respond to him, and then refused to follow commands, including to show police his hands as more law enforcement arrived to deal with the situation in the area of Amity and Cole roads. Eventually, officers determined that Gaver was resisting and obstructing, and McKone informed him that he was under arrest and going to be detained, according to the report. Two bean bag rounds were fired, and Ada County Deputy Jon McGee deployed his dog Astrid, who attempted to bite Gaver. However, Gaver made some movements and she disengaged, the report said. Multiple officers in the report said that they didn't realize Gaver stabbed her. Gaver ran away, but Astrid kept trying to engage him, according to the report. However, she disengaged after she was hit by a bean bag, and Astrid also got tangled in taser wires, the report said. Multiple officers tried to use tasers on Gaver, but he kept using a cane he was carrying under the tarp to hit the wires away, the report said. Gaver then fell to the ground, according to the Ada County news release. Boise Police Officer Connor Rush sent out his K9 Meko, who bit Gaver, the report said. As Gaver stabbed the dog, Rush moved forward to try to stop him. However, Gaver swung the knife toward Rush, who retreated, authorities said. Rush told investigators the stabbing was 'painful to see happen.' 'Officer Rush said he didn't give it that much deep thought in the moment, but his intention was to do something to get the suspect to stop stabbing his dog and get the knife out of his hands,' the report said. Gaver began to get to his feet with the knife, and four deputies — Jonathon Faddis, Michael MacLeod, McKone and Keith Montague — discharged their weapons, along with Boise Police Officer Camron Johnson. Both Astrid and Meko suffered multiple stab wounds and underwent extensive treatment and recovery, and both were able to return to service.
