Six Men Charged After Forcibly Removing Woman from Town Hall

Following a contentious incident at a Republican town hall meeting in northern Idaho, six men are facing charges for their involvement in forcibly removing a woman from the event. The charges stem from the chaotic scene that unfolded during the meeting.

Paul Trouette, Russell Dunne, Christofer Berg, and Jesse Jones are each charged with misdemeanor battery, false imprisonment, and violations related to security agent duties and uniform requirements. Alex Trouette is charged with security agent duties and uniform violations. All five men are connected to Lear Asset Management, a private security firm whose license was revoked by the city after the incident.

The sixth man, Michael Keller, who is not affiliated with the security firm, is also charged with misdemeanor battery. The prosecutor’s office has declined to provide further details regarding the charges.

The incident occurred in February when a female protester, Teresa Borrenpohl, was pulled from her seat, wrestled to the ground, and dragged out of the auditorium by the men. The men were not in uniform and refused to identify themselves when asked.

Borrenpohl, a former Democratic nominee for state office, was asked to leave the meeting after she and other activists heckled state GOP lawmakers about several bills. She stated that she was "seized" after speaking out against a state representative. Borrenpohl has since filed a $5 million lawsuit against the six men and the county sheriff, alleging violations of her constitutional rights.

Footage of the incident shows the Kootenai County Sheriff, wearing casual attire, instructing Borrenpohl to leave. She questioned his identity due to his attire and the lighting. Following the incident, the Kootenai County Undersheriff announced an independent investigation of the incident.