Police: Renfro kept criminal company
DAVID COLE/dcole@cdapress.com | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 7 months AGO
COEUR d'ALENE - The man accused of shooting Coeur d'Alene Police Officer Greg Moore also likely has ties to a home raided for guns, drugs and stolen property.
On May 20, the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force and Post Falls SWAT team served a "high risk" search warrant for the home and vehicles at 2596 N. Bradley Drive in Post Falls. Authorities found several guns, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Six people were arrested.
Moore's alleged shooter, 27-year-old Jonathan D. Renfro of Rathdrum, allegedly left a stolen Jeep at the Post Falls home.
Renfro also is charged with stealing Moore's patrol car and duty handgun and being a felon in possession of a firearm following the May 5 shooting of Moore.
"It's been a problematic house for Post Falls police," Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug said Friday.
Prior to the raid, neighbors had complained about regular "stop and go traffic" at the home, Haug said.
Police also knew wanted people frequented the place and that there was trafficking in stolen property there, he said.
In April, a SWAT team was called to the home when a woman had been taken hostage, he said. A 24-year-old Coeur d'Alene man was arrested after holding the woman at knifepoint and barricading himself inside for more than five hours.
A Post Falls Police Department incident report written following the May 20 raid said resident Jesse Allen Humiston, who was arrested, named Renfro as the person who left the stolen Jeep at the home.
Humiston, who was released Friday from the Kootenai County jail, is facing robbery, grand theft, drug and paraphernalia possession charges.
Humiston, in interviews with authorities, also named Renfro in an incident where a Utility Task Vehicle was stolen and a pursuit by the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office ensued, according to the report.
A spokesman for the FBI didn't comment Friday about Humiston. Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh couldn't immediately be reached Friday for comment about Renfro's ties to Humiston and the Bradley Drive home.
In a Press story following the raid on May 20, authorities said one person associated with the home threatened a shootout with police.
Russell William Irby also was named as a resident of the home. A search warrant request said "Russell Irby (is) possibly willing to shoot it out with police."
"Treat us like animals, put warrants out for our arrests, lie to all of us, federally indict us, even roll up in your ****ing armored vehicles and raid our God**** houses with assault rifles and K-9s - but just remember you'll never stop us," Irby posted to Facebook on May 23.
The Post Falls police report also briefly detailed an April incident in which Irby and Humiston allegedly robbed a man who attempted to sell a laptop.
The alleged victim said he went to the Bradley Drive home to sell the computer to Irby, who offered a Glock 26 pistol in trade. The man said he declined because he thought it was stolen.
"Later on (the man) ended up in a field with Jesse, Russell and another male he thought was 'Randy,'" the report said.
The man alleged that Irby took his backpack containing his laptop computer and iPhone.
"After he tried to get it back Jesse pulled out a gun, cocked it, and pointed it at (the man)," the report said. He began to run and Humiston allegedly chased him, it said.
Renfro, 27, of Rathdrum, appeared briefly in court Friday, but attorneys only asked for more time to address several motions and prepare for a preliminary hearing.
The motions are now scheduled to be argued on June 24, and the preliminary hearing is set for July 22.
ARTICLES BY DAVID COLE/DCOLE@CDAPRESS.COM
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