By REBECCA BOONE and MARTHA BELLISLE
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A Republican-hosted town hall meeting in Idaho descended into chaos after three men dressed in black 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, drew widespread attention after videos of the turbulence were posted online. Now more than $120,000 has been raised for Teresa Borrenpohl’s legal costs, and the police chief has requested that a security firm’s business license be revoked.
The city attorney’s office also dismissed a misdemeanor battery citation against Borrenpohl “in the interest of justice,” Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White said Monday.
Roughly 450 people attended the legislative town hall hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, said the organization’s chairman Brent Regan. All of them were told that security officers were present, and that “anyone who refused to respect the rights of others would be removed from the event.”
Still, videos show cheers and jeers were erupting throughout the crowd at times — including when one lawmaker mentioned legislation that he said protected doctors from “being forced to do abortions.”
“Women are dying,” one person in the audience shouted. “And doctors are leaving our state!” another yelled. A moderator tried to quiet the crowd, scolding people for “popping off with stupid remarks.”
That’s when Borrenpohl, a Democratic legislative candidate who has run unsuccessfully in the deeply Republican region, began to shout as well.
“Is this a town hall, or a lecture?” she asked.
By that point, Borrenpohl had been warned at least three times to stop interrupting the speakers, said Regan. “We’re trying to respect the rights of the 450 people that were there to listen,” he said. “One person can’t stand up to bring a halt to the whole event.”
Borrenpohl told the Idaho Statesman that she felt she could express displeasure because people who were calling out in support of the speakers were not told to be quiet. “Nobody was telling people cheering to stop cheering, but anytime there was a negative reaction, we were scolded,” she said.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, who was in plain clothes but wearing his badge on his belt, approached Borrenpohl. He told her to leave or she would be escorted out; when he tugged on her arm, she told him not to touch her. Then the sheriff stepped back and began recording on his cellphone as three unidentified men wearing black jackets without logos approached and grabbed Borrenpohl.
She told the Statesman that Norris had turned to the unidentified men and said, “Guys, get her.” The sheriff later denied knowledge of the event’s security arrangements.
Borrenpohl repeatedly yelled, “Who are these men?” and asked them to show badges. They did not identify themselves, and dragged her into the aisle and out of the auditorium.
The men reportedly worked for the private security company LEAR Asset Management. They 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.”
White, the police chief, told The Associated Press he had requested the revocation of company’s business licenses and the security agent licenses from the individuals who were involved.
The sheriff reportedly asked police to arrest Borrenpohl for trespassing. They declined, pointing out that the event was open to the public.
The citation against her, for allegedly biting one of the men during the struggle, was dismissed.
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.”
Messages left for LEAR CEO Paul Trouette were not immediately returned.
Though the Coeur d’Alene Press said the company is based in Hayden, Idaho, it became well-known 10 years ago on California’s North Coast when its agents were hired to clear illegal marijuana grows on private land.
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Bellisle reported from Seattle.