In a chaotic turn of events during a Republican-led town hall meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a woman was forcibly removed by plainclothes security personnel after heckling the speakers. Videos of the incident, held at Coeur d’Alene High School, have gained significant attention online, sparking widespread discussion.
The disturbance has led to over $120,000 being raised for Teresa Borrenpohl, the woman involved, to cover her legal expenses. Following this incident, Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White stated that the misdemeanor battery charge against Borrenpohl has been dismissed in the “interest of justice.” The police are currently reviewing video footage to assess whether the security staff breached any legal protocols.
The event hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee was attended by approximately 450 individuals, according to Brent Regan, the committee’s chairman. Attendees were informed that security was in place and that disruptions would lead to removal from the premises. Despite this, the event was frequently interrupted by audible reactions from the crowd, including cheers and shouts, particularly when a speaker addressed legislation concerning doctors and abortions.
A Democratic candidate and former contender in the region, Borrenpohl, challenged the nature of the town hall, questioning its format amidst repeated interruptions. Regan noted that Borrenpohl had been cautioned multiple times to cease her disturbances.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, present in plain clothes but identifiable with his badge, approached Borrenpohl, introducing himself and warning her of potential removal. After stepping back to record the encounter, three unidentified men approached Borrenpohl, physically removing her from the venue. Tonya Coppedge, another attendee, captured the incident on video, noting the men’s refusal to identify themselves and describing the encounter as violent.
Alicia Abbott, a close friend of Borrenpohl who set up a GoFundMe campaign on her behalf, questioned the legitimacy of her detainment and criticized the lack of security training apparent in the incident. The men were reportedly from LEAR Asset Management, a private security company based in Hayden, Idaho. City ordinances mandate that security personnel must wear identifiable uniforms, a protocol not observed in this incident.
Chief White has called for the revocation of business and individual licenses associated with the security firm involved. Heightened security measures had been taken at the event following threats toward one of the lawmakers, Rep. Jordan Redman, who had faced recent online threats. As a precaution, local law enforcement also stationed officers outside the event.
In response to the incident, Kootenai County Undersheriff Brett Nelson announced that an independent investigation would be conducted to thoroughly examine the events that unfolded.
