'Most Wanted' fugitive found in Coolin
Conor CHRISTOFFERSON<br | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 17 years, 8 months AGO
COOLIN - A California man recently featured on the television show “America's Most Wanted” was apprehended Monday morning in Coolin.
Damian Maple, 21, of San Diego, Calif., was charged with aggravated mayhem and torture in connection with a February incident that left an Australian tourist in critical condition.
According to “America's Most Wanted”, which featured the story on their March 29 broadcast, Maple and an accomplice, 46-year-old Frank Montoya, beat Robert Schneider unconscious with a skateboard before throwing him in a concrete fire pit.
The incident left Schneider in a coma with severe burns on his legs and body, a fractured skull, a broken hand and deep facial cuts.
The Monday morning arrest came as a result of tips made to San Diego Crime Stoppers and was coordinated in conjunction with the San Diego fugitive task force, U.S. Marshals and Bonner County Sheriff's Office.
Bonner County Sheriff Elaine Savage said the arrest went smoothly and without incident after Maple was found hiding under a bed at a residence on East River Road.
“The U.S. Marshals developed information that the suspect was in our area and we just helped out,” Savage said. “It was quick and easy.”
Maple is being held at the Bonner County jail awaiting extradition to San Diego, which Savage said will most likely happen within the week.
According to San Diego TV reports Montoya was arrested in Eugene, Ore.
ARTICLES BY CONOR CHRISTOFFERSON<BR
ITD: Ruling only delays construction of bypass
SANDPOINT — The future of the Sand Creek Byway may be in jeopardy after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency injunction Wednesday that halts construction on the polarizing project.
Local residents celebrate inauguration
SANDPOINT — On one of the nation’s most historic days, hundreds of area residents gathered to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama as America’s 44th president.
Group debating historic depot's future
Meeting set to discuss options
SANDPOINT — With reports of vandalism and hints that it will soon be abandoned, the future of Sandpoint’s train depot is uncertain at best. However, that hasn’t stopped a group of depot advocates from fighting to save the 93-year-old structure.