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Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police recommend battery and more charges for security guards, others in chaotic Coeur d'Alene Republican town hall
Apr. 9—Officers have recommended criminal charges for the private security guards who helped drag a woman by her arms out of a Republican town hall in Coeur d'Alene and battered other people at the February event, according to newly released police reports. A member of the public shown on video helping the security team also faces charges. The mayhem that spurred nationwide headlines began after Teresa Borrenpohl was booing and loudly commenting to lawmakers speaking at the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee event held at Coeur d'Alene High School. Then-unidentified men in black jackets grabbed her, pulled her to the floor and dragged her out as she screamed, video shows. The men, who at the time refused to say who they were, were working as private security officers for Lear Asset Management, a California company formed in 2012 that gained publicity for its raids on illegal marijuana grows in Mendocino County. The five Lear employees — Paul Trouette, Alexander Trouette, Christofer Berg, Russell Dunne and Jesse Jones — are considered suspects in the criminal investigation into the town hall after police allege they touched or physically removed Borrenpohl and several other attendees, according to reports released Wednesday on the Coeur d'Alene Police Department website. Lear did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, despite Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris physically engaging with two people at the event, he is not considered a suspect, according to the police reports — only an "involved" party. Investigators wrote that he declined an interview through his attorney. Norris was poised to face an independent investigation into his conduct after the town hall to see if his actions violated any policy. Sheriff's Office Lt. Jeff Howard said Wednesday he was told by Norris' attorney not to release the identity of the agency conducting the investigation. Norris' attorney, Kinzo Mihara, could not be reached for comment Wednesday . Police also recommended a battery charge against Michael Keller, who officers say inserted himself into the altercation and pushed Borrenpohl's friend. Keller also had a firearm at the time, reports say, so police recommended charging him with possessing a weapon on school property. Coeur d'Alene Chief Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Hunter said in an email Wednesday that he received the investigation reports last Friday and they are pending review. He didn't have an estimate on when the review would be finished. How it all began Investigators recommended several battery and false imprisonment charges against the men for allegedly grabbing and restraining Borrenpohl, the man sitting next to her other attendees. Police listed Alexander Trouette only as an accessory, as there is no footage of him touching or removing anyone, according to the reports. The spark that led to the fracas was when Borrenpohl shouted, "Is this a town hall, or a lecture?" at the emcee. Norris confronted her, identified himself and told her to leave or she would be escorted out. When she didn't comply, video shows Norris grabbed her arms and tried to pull her from her chair. In videos of the altercation, Borrenpohl is heard saying, "Please don't touch me" to which Norris responds, "Do you want pepper spray? Let's go." Norris then gestures to the security team. The men walk over and grab Borrenpohl, telling her to cooperate as Norris stood by, seen holding his phone as if he's recording video. According to witness footage, Borrenpohl can be heard screaming repeatedly, "Who are these men?" and, "Who are these guys?" as one man told her to cooperate. Both men then pull her to the floor and grab her by her arms and legs. The men roll her over and drag her by her arms out the door as she continued to ask people who the men are, the video shows. Police wrote in reports the security members were wearing tactical-type pants and long-sleeved black jackets with no security markings or badges that would indicate they were security, which is a violation of city code. Lear's license to operate within the city was revoked because of that violation. Borrenpohl told police she had bruising all over her body; a sore neck, shoulder and elbows; and abrasions on her hands and back from the incident. As Borrenpohl is dragged away, people in the crowd sneer and yell out to her, "Bye, Teresa" and, "Remove the trash." The emcee, Ed Bejarana, calls Borrenpohl a "little girl" and says opposing voices are "meaningless" as others cheer him on, video from the town hall shows. Marc Stewart, KCRCC precinct committeeman, told police he believed Bejarana was inciting the crowd during the event and saw a group of men pulling Borrenpohl out of the auditorium and her clothes were coming off, revealing her bra. After the altercation, Borrenpohl was cited for alleged battery based on the "limited information" police knew at the time because she bit one of the men as he dragged her away. The private security officer she bit told police he wanted to press charges against her because she left a mark on his skin, the reports say. But after further reviewing evidence, the city prosecutor's office decided to drop the battery charge "in the interest of justice" and "careful consideration of the law," Hunter said previously. Stewart said the event was intended to be a question-and-answer session, but only a few questions were asked of the legislators, according to reports. Borrenpohl was dragged out almost one hour into the town hall, he told police. One Coeur d'Alene police investigator noted in his reports that most of Borrenpohl's statements were one sentence and didn't disrupt the "flow" of the town hall. The cheers sustained by the audience were "more of a disruption than any statement that Teresa made," the officer wrote. Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White also told The Spokesman-Review in February, "You can restrict behavior, but you cannot restrict content," making a nod to Borrenpohl's First Amendment rights to free speech. According to the police reports, Gregg Johnson also yelled at Norris around the same time to leave Borrenpohl alone. Norris responded, "You're out, too" and said Johnson was "going to jail" for refusing to leave the auditorium because he was concerned about Borrenpohl's wellbeing. Norris grabbed Johnson's arms and pushed his hands multiple times to get him to leave, the reports say. "Prior to being removed physically by Norris, Gregg had not been warned for his conduct, was not told why Norris wanted him to leave, nor was he ever told by Norris why he was going to take Gregg to jail," the investigator wrote. Law enforcement still don't know whether Norris was given authority to trespass anyone at the town hall because he declined to speak to police, the reports say. If Norris were to be charged with a crime like battery, the only official who would be able to arrest him would be the county coroner, according to an outdated law from the 1800's. The law was enacted before Idaho was even a state. More people join the fray As security tried to drag Borrenpohl out of the auditorium, videos show Keller pushing and blocking Borrenpohl's friend, Megan Dardis-Kunz, who was trying to get close to Borrenpohl to support her, according to police reports. Dardis-Kunz told police she and her friends, Tamara Sines-Kermelis and Borrenpohl, were met with "hostility" the moment they got to the event. Dardis-Kunz said she was wearing a sweatshirt that said something akin to "destroy American fascism," and that the sweatshirt was eliciting angry comments and looks from other attendees, according to reports. When Borrenpohl was pulled from her seat, Dardis-Kunz said she went around the aisle so Borrenpohl could see her and feel supported. When she walked toward Borrenpohl, a man, who police believe was Keller, pushed her and then grabbed her arms, blocking her from proceeding toward her friend, she said. Dardis-Kunz told Keller not to touch her and she was trying to get her friend, but Keller told her something like, "No, you're not," Dardis-Kunz told police. She told Keller he was not her dad and he cannot tell her what to do, and Keller replied that she was not his wife. Those comments were confirmed with video footage, reports say. The exchange with Keller continued until she walked away, fearing the man or others at the meeting might hurt her if she stayed, she told police. Police viewed videos provided by Sines-Kermelis and Dardis-Kunz, as well as others, like those posted on social media. They show Borrenpohl in the aisle of the auditorium as Dardis-Kunz tried to get close to Borrenpohl, but Keller blocked and pushed her with the side of his body. Keller is shown pushing Dardis-Kunz backward with his hip and hand. One video shows Dardis-Kunz appearing to punch the man in the arm and telling him not to touch her. He then turns to face her and continues to have a verbal exchange until Dardis-Kunz walks away. A witness told police she recalled the man in the flannel shirt, believed to be Keller, having a revolver on his hip. Someone mentions a gun being in the auditorium, and soon after, officers talk about an older man walking to his vehicle to put his gun away, according to an officer's body camera footage. Norris says there was a man with a firearm and then pointed to Keller, who is seen through the windows on the sidewalk. Police wrote that one or two other people were carrying firearms and were asked to leave the school grounds, but those people did not insert themselves into the incident like Keller did. Police attempted to speak with Keller, and his attorney, Michael Palmer, told police he advised Keller not to speak and would follow with a letter, according to reports. Meanwhile, one woman who chose to record Borrenpohl, and did not attempt to touch or insert herself into the altercation, was told by Paul Trouette to back away. She did, but he pushed her down the hallway, tried to turn her around, zip tie her hands and then touched her breast, she said in the report . "She was not physically interfering or blocking their actions with Teresa. She had not been trespassed or asked to leave the meeting," the officer wrote in his report. Security company's involvement probed Reports indicate Lear had no contract with the KCRCC. "At this time there is no credible evidence that a contract between the KCRCC and LEAR exists to provide protection," police wrote. When interviewed by police, a Lear member said they were trying to get a contract made but felt "rushed" by the organizers. The police officer who drafted the report also noted there were "mixed messages" from different KCRCC members as to whether Lear was hired to provide security at the event. An operations plan listed Paul Trouette and Berg as supervisors and Jones, Alexander Trouette and Dunne as guards. Part of the plan stated: "Warn those who are disruptive in the meeting to cease, or they will be removed or (sic) the direction of the Chair." The company claims it was only engaging with audience members at the direction of Norris, and they were "under a direct lawful order by Sheriff Norris they could not lawfully refuse."
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two days after a woman was dragged from a Coeur d'Alene town hall, Sheriff Bob Norris and other parties will face investigation into conduct
Feb. 24—Two days after private security guards dragged a woman by her arms out of a legislative town hall in Coeur d'Alene at the signaling of Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, he and others at the event are now facing investigations into their conduct. Teresa Borrenpohl was jeering local politicians on the town hall stage Saturday afternoon along with other people in the auditorium at Coeur d'Alene High School. The event had been marketed on Facebook by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee as a legislative town hall designed to give the public updates from local lawmakers. Borrenpohl, who ran as a Democrat for Idaho's House of Representatives in 2024, 2022 and 2020, was booing the participants along with other attendees at the meeting when Norris confronted her, identified himself and told her to leave or she would be escorted out, video from the event shows. As she did not comply, Norris grabbed her arm with both hands and attempted to remove her from the town hall. She asked him, "Please don't touch me." He then admonished people recording his actions. He is seen on video asking Borrenpohl: "Do you want pepper spray? Let's go." The sheriff then summoned two security guards who eventually wrestled her from her seat and dragged her out of the auditorium as she screamed, "Who are these men?" The men were later identified by town hall organizer Brent Regan as private security from Lear Asset Management Inc. Regan, chairman of the KCRCC, said he hired them as a precaution over threats made against a legislator. After Saturday's chaos, the city of Coeur d'Alene revoked Lear's security license due to their uniforms and behavior, stating that both were in violation of city code, a news release from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department said. Norris is also poised to be the subject of an outside investigation to determine if his conduct at the meeting violated any policy, according to a separate release from his own sheriff's office. He is expected to make a statement on the matter Tuesday, a sheriff's spokesperson said. It's unclear which agency will be tasked with investigating any policy violations, but options include the Idaho State Police, Post Falls Police or the Bonner County Sheriff's Office. In the meantime, Coeur d'Alene Police are conducting a separate investigation into people at the event to determine if anyone violated criminal law. Police cited Borrenpohl on Saturday night on suspicion of battery from the "limited information" known at the time after she allegedly bit one of the security guards removing her from the town hall, the police department said in a Monday news release. But following the review of more witness videos and other evidence, the Coeur d'Alene City Attorney's Office declined to pursue prosecution. "Careful consideration of relevant law," the police report and additional information that came to light all contributed to the decision, Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Hunter said via email. A motion to dismiss Borrenpohl's charge will be filed in the coming days. A GoFundMe set up to help Borrenpohl in retaining legal counsel collected $200,000 from more than 6,000 contributors as of Monday night. What happened? Regan said Borrenpohl had shouted six or seven times as lawmakers spoke, so she was warned three times to stop interrupting. In the video someone is heard saying, "women are dying." The remark is followed by the emcee, Ed Bejarana, saying some guests have "stupid remarks," to which Borrenpohl responds, "is this a town hall or a lecture?" At some point, Norris approached Borrenpohl, identified himself as the sheriff and claimed she would be arrested if she didn't leave. The emcee was standing at a podium on stage and told those who were jeering at him that he had a microphone and "will continue to talk over you." "The reality is, there's a whole bunch of great things that are happening; the problem is we've got a bunch of rabble-rousers who just won't allow it to be spoken," Bejarana said. "So the thing is, what I'm doing up here is, I'm simply over-talking you because your voice is meaningless right now." Norris then gestured to two men in plainclothes with black jackets. They grabbed Borrenpohl and told her to cooperate as Norris stood by, seen holding his phone as if he's recording video. According to witness footage, Borrenpohl can be heard screaming repeatedly, "Who are these men?" and "Who are these guys?" as one man told her to cooperate. Both men then pulled her to the floor and grabbed her by her arms and legs. The men rolled her over and dragged her by her arms out the door as she continued to ask people who the men are. After she was dragged away, Norris is heard in the video asking for two more security workers. The speaker then echoes Norris' request over the microphone, video shows. Notably, Borrenpohl was confronted by Norris and Lear security after shouting that state Sen. Phil Hart, R-Kellog, had once stolen timber from public land meant for sale to fund public schools in Idaho. Hart paid the state $2,450 in 2010, the 1996 market value of the logs he had taken to build his home, which he maintained he was legally allowed to do despite three court rulings to the contrary. First Amendment, other issues up for debate The security guards who dragged Borrenpohl out of the venue are employees of Lear Asset Management, a California-based security company formed in 2012 that gained renown for its Mendocino County raids on illegal marijuana grows. Lear's website lists its services, including shoplifting prevention, dignitary and VIP protection services, and preventing timber theft on private lands. Paul Trouette, owner and CEO of Lear, told the Coeur d'Alene City Council last June that his employees wore uniforms that clearly said "Security Contractor" on them so they would be easily distinguishable from law enforcement. No uniforms are visible in footage of the incident. Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Dan Gookin said he believed their lack of clothed identification went against a recent city ordinance, to which Trouette objected at the time. Apart from private security, off-duty police officers occasionally fill in as security officers for private companies as they do at Best Buy on Black Friday. Officers can be hired by groups, said Coeur d'Alene Police Capt. David Hagar, but "we have to make sure we are complying with the law and police policy." Off-duty officers on security jobs are required to dress in full police uniform, Hagar said. The incident has also raised questions about the First Amendment: Whether or to what extent First Amendment rights were violated could depend in part on whether the town hall was legally a public forum or private event. In a public forum, free speech restrictions must generally be limited to the "time, place and manner" of the speech. While authorities can, in some cases, also restrict the content of speech, they can only do so in a way that is "viewpoint neutral." Notification for the event was posted on Facebook by the KCRCC and does not indicate the meeting was private or ticketed in any way. "The KCRCC will be holding a Legislative Town Hall on Saturday, February 22nd, 12:30-2:30 PM, at the Coeur d'Alene High School. This is a great opportunity to meet your Idaho State Legislators and get updates on the 2025 Legislative Session," the post states. Commentators have noted that Borrenpohl was removed from the event for jeering, while guests who applauded and cheered the speakers were not removed. "Examples of spaces found by courts to be limited public forums include public school facilities during after school hours and the interior of a city hall," a 2022 post by the University of North Carolina School of Government states. Regan contends Saturday's town hall was a private event held at a public venue, Coeur d'Alene High School. Though the event was marketed openly by a flyer on Facebook with no tickets or invitation required, Regan announced at the event that the meeting was private since the KCRCC isn't a governmental agency and legislators speaking were "invited guests." "A private event can be held in a public setting," Regan said. "As soon as it was a private event, it's the same as if it were in your living room. If they start acting up, you can ask them to leave." Gookin, a member of the KCRCC often at odds with Regan, said he disagrees with Regan's classification of the event as private. "My contention is, why would you send out flyers to the general public and advertise that this event is happening if this is a private event," Gookin said. "I think they're trying to mince words to justify their actions." He considered Saturday's setting a public event, though not a public meeting. The nuance in the distinction, Gookin said, is how the public is expected to participate. He considers city council meetings as "a meeting in public, not a meeting with the public," he said, because the audience can't interact with city officials as they're doing official business, only during periods of public comment and public testimony. He said at any event or meeting, public or private, the hosts can request anyone leave. If they don't comply, law enforcement can trespass them from the space. "If someone's being disruptive, you can ask them to leave; you cannot force someone to leave," Gookin said, saying a proper reaction to Borrenpohl would have been to call 911 and have authorities trespass her. "In your own home, definitely you can drag someone out the front door," Gookin said. "But as far as a public location like that, say you rent the pavilion for a picnic, you don't drag them out by their hair, you call the police." Though Norris was involved during the whole interaction, Borrenpohl wasn't trespassed. Coeur d'Alene police declined Norris' request to trespass and arrest Borrenpohl. The police department said in its Monday news release that the department "recognizes and values all rights afforded by the United States Constitution to all citizens" which includes the right to free speech. The incident is "complex," the release said, and detectives are continuing to investigate. Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White told the Coeur d'Alene Press on Sunday he believed Borrenpohl's removal was inappropriate in the eyes of the First Amendment. The Coeur d'Alene City Council has since released a statement on Borrenpohl's removal in which they advocate for equal protection under the law "for every citizen" and the decision from the chief of police to investigate the incident. "We set a clear expectation that the laws of the State of Idaho and the U.S. Constitution will be followed in any interactions with our citizens," the statement, signed by all city council members and the mayor, reads. "As City leaders we have a long history of strongly supporting human rights, civil rights, and dignity for all. Citizens and visitors to Coeur d'Alene can count on these guiding principles." Borrenpohl declined to comment when reached by phone Sunday afternoon; she later provided a written statement. "I could never have imagined my right to free speech and my right to assemble could be stripped in such a violent way," she wrote. Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Idaho town hall meeting turns chaotic after woman is forcibly removed for heckling speakers
A Republican-hosted legislative town hall meeting in northern Idaho became turbulent after three plainclothes security workers forcibly removed a woman who was heckling the speakers. The incident Saturday at Coeur d'Alene High School, first reported by the Coeur d'Alene Press, quickly drew widespread attention after videos of the chaos were posted online. Now more than $100,000 has been raised for Teresa Borrenpohl's legal costs — she was issued a misdemeanor citation for battery after biting one of the men who tried to drag her from her seat — and critics are saying she was wrongfully detained. Borrenpohl is a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for a state legislative seat in 2024. She didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. 'She repeatedly asked them to identify themselves,' said Tonya Coppedge, who was sitting behind Borrenpohl and shot video of the disruption on her cellphone. The men, who were later identified as employees of a private security company, refused, she said. At one point, one of the men bent Borrenpohl's wrist into an extremely flexed position that appeared to be painful, she said. 'They were not very kind to her — it was pretty violent and traumatic,"Coppedge said. 'I think everybody was pretty disturbed by what took place.' Kootenai County Republican Central Committee Chairman Brent Regan said everyone who attended the event were told that security officials were present and that 'anyone who refused to respect the rights of others would be removed from the event.' Borrenpohl repeatedly interrupted the speakers and was warned at least three times, Regan said. 'We're trying to respect the rights of the 450 people that were there to listen. One person can't stand up to bring a halt to the whole event," Regan said. 'The disruption was more than 18 minutes that we had to stop, and that took time away from the question and answer session.' Videos of the event show multiple people there were cheering or jeering, including Borrenpohl. After one of the speakers asked the jeering to stop, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris — also in plain clothes but wearing his badge on his belt — approached Borrenpohl. He introduced himself and told her to leave or she would be escorted out. Then the sheriff stepped back and began recording on his cellphone as three unidentified men approached and began grabbing Borrenpohl. Borrenpohl repeatedly asked if the men are deputies but was given no answer. She fought to remain in her seat, but the men overpowered her, carrying her out of the venue. Alicia Abbott, a friend of Borrenpohl's who organized a GoFundMe on her behalf, said Borrenpohl and has bruises on her chest from the incident. She suggested Borrenpohl was wrongly detained by the unidentified security workers. 'Who were these people to detain Teresa in the first place?' Abbot asked. 'This is not the first time we've seen this kind of security presence in public meetings or town halls. If they're going to be detaining people, do they even have knowledge of the law? Are they trained to safely remove people?" The men who physically removed Teresa Borrenpohl from the meeting worked for the private security company LEAR Asset Management, based in Hayden, Idaho. Messages left for its CEO were not immediately returned. The men appeared to have violated Coeur d'Alene City ordinances, which require security personnel to wear uniforms with the word 'Security' clearly marked 'in letters no less than 1-inch tall on the front of the uniform.' Organizers arranged for extra security at the event after one of the lawmakers told them he had been facing death threats, Regan said. Rep. Jordan Redman, a Republican, had recently been threatened with bombings by an individual on social media, and so KCRCC notified the sheriff and arranged for security, Regan said. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department also had officers stationed in the parking lot outside. On Monday, Kootenai County Undersheriff Brett Nelson released a statement saying the agency will have a 'complete and independent investigation of the incident conducted by an outside agency.' ___
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho town hall meeting turns chaotic after woman is forcibly removed for heckling speakers
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A Republican-hosted legislative town hall meeting in northern Idaho became turbulent after three plainclothes security workers forcibly removed a woman who was heckling the speakers. The incident Saturday at Coeur d'Alene High School, first reported by the Coeur d'Alene Press, quickly drew widespread attention after videos of the chaos were posted online. Now more than $93,000 has been raised for Teresa Borrenpohl's legal costs — she was issued a misdemeanor citation for battery after biting one of the men who tried to drag her from her seat — and critics are saying she was wrongfully detained. Borrenpohl is a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for a state legislative seat in 2024. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'She repeatedly asked them to identify themselves,' said Tonya Coppedge, who was sitting behind Borrenpohl and shot video of the disruption on her cellphone. The men, who were later identified as employees of a private security company, refused, she said. At one point, one of the men bent Borrenpohl's wrist into an extremely flexed position that appeared to be painful, she said. 'They were not very kind to her — it was pretty violent and traumatic,"Coppedge said. 'I think everybody was pretty disturbed by what took place.' Kootenai County Republican Central Committee Chairman Brent Regan said all 450 people who attended the event were told that security officials were present and that 'anyone who refused to respect the rights of others would be removed from the event.' Borrenpohl repeatedly interrupted the speakers and was warned at least three times, Regan said. 'We're trying to respect the rights of the 450 people that were there to listen. One person can't stand up to bring a halt to the whole event," Regan said. 'The disruption was more than 18 minutes that we had to stop, and that took time away from the question and answer session.' Videos of the event show multiple people there were cheering or jeering, including Borrenpohl. After one of the speakers asked the jeering to stop, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris approached Borrenpohl. He introduced himself and told her to leave or she would be escorted out. Then the sheriff stepped back and began recording on his cellphone as three unidentified men approached and began grabbing Borrenpohl. Borrenpohl repeatedly asked if the men are deputies but was given no answer. She fought to remain in her seat, but the men overpowered her, carrying her out of the venue.
Associated Press
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Idaho town hall meeting turns chaotic after woman is forcibly removed for heckling speakers
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A Republican-hosted legislative town hall meeting in northern Idaho became turbulent after three plainclothes security workers forcibly removed a woman who was heckling the speakers. The incident Saturday at Coeur d'Alene High School, first reported by the Coeur d'Alene Press, quickly drew widespread attention after videos of the chaos were posted online. Now more than $93,000 has been raised for Teresa Borrenpohl's legal costs — she was issued a misdemeanor citation for battery after biting one of the men who tried to drag her from her seat — and critics are saying she was wrongfully detained. Borrenpohl is a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for a state legislative seat in 2024. 'She repeatedly asked them to identify themselves,' said Tonya Coppedge, who was sitting behind Borrenpohl and shot video of the disruption on her cellphone. The men, who were later identified as employees of a private security company, refused, she said. At one point, one of the men bent Borrenpohl's wrist into an extremely flexed position that appeared to be painful, she said. 'They were not very kind to her — it was pretty violent and traumatic,"Coppedge said. 'I think everybody was pretty disturbed by what took place.' Kootenai County Republican Central Committee Chairman Brent Regan said all 450 people who attended the event were told that security officials were present and that 'anyone who refused to respect the rights of others would be removed from the event.' Borrenpohl repeatedly interrupted the speakers and was warned at least three times, Regan said. 'We're trying to respect the rights of the 450 people that were there to listen. One person can't stand up to bring a halt to the whole event,' Regan said. 'The disruption was more than 18 minutes that we had to stop, and that took time away from the question and answer session.' Videos of the event show multiple people there were cheering or jeering, including Borrenpohl. After one of the speakers asked the jeering to stop, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris approached Borrenpohl. He introduced himself and told her to leave or she would be escorted out. Then the sheriff stepped back and began recording on his cellphone as three unidentified men approached and began grabbing Borrenpohl. Borrenpohl repeatedly asked if the men are deputies but was given no answer. She fought to remain in her seat, but the men overpowered her, carrying her out of the venue.
