Misdemeanor charges have been filed against six men in northern Idaho following the forcible removal of a woman from a legislative town hall meeting that took place in February. The woman, Theresa Borrenpohl, was forcibly taken out of the meeting held in a Coeur d’Alene school by plain-clothed private security officers. On Monday, she officially notified Kootenai County officials of her intention to pursue legal action by submitting a tort claim notice.
The Coeur d’Alene City Prosecutor’s office has charged Paul Trouette, Russell Dunne, Christofer Berg, and Jesse Jones with misdemeanor battery, false imprisonment, and breaches of security agent duties and uniform requirements. Alex Trouette IV faces charges related to security agent duties and uniform violations. Both Trouette and Dunne, along with Berg, Jones, and Alex Trouette IV, are linked to Lear Asset Management, a private security firm whose license was revoked by the city following the town hall. An unrelated individual, Michael Keller, has also been charged with misdemeanor battery.
Details of the charges have not yet been released to the public, and further comments from the prosecutor’s office have not been provided. Attempts to reach Dunne, Berg, and Paul Trouette for comments were unsuccessful, and contact information for Jones, Keller, or Alex Trouette was unavailable.
The town hall, organized by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, attracted approximately 450 attendees. Videos from the event captured moments of both cheering and jeering from the crowd. At one point, Borrenpohl, a Democratic candidate who previously ran unsuccessfully in the predominantly Republican area, was seen engaging in the shouting.
Footage from the event also showed Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, in plain clothes but wearing a badge, approaching Borrenpohl. He identified himself and warned her to leave or face being escorted out. Sheriff Norris later stepped back and began recording as three unidentified men approached Borrenpohl. These individuals, who refused to identify themselves and were not in uniform, were seen grabbing her.
In response to the incident, Kootenai County Undersheriff Brett Nelson announced that an independent investigation by an external agency would be conducted. In a press release, Borrenpohl emphasized the significance of holding individuals accountable, citing similar experiences shared with her by others following the town hall incident. She expressed concern over the breach of her fundamental right to free speech, stressing that town halls should encourage dialogue and discussion across political lines.
