Judge: Rambo can't go near police station
Ralph Bartholdt Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 3 months AGO
A Coeur d’Alene magistrate increased the bail amount to $1 million Friday for the 18-year-old who was shot 14 times by police after he pointed a gun at them July 4 in downtown Coeur d’Alene.
Tyler Rambo is charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault. He also faces two misdemeanor drug charges stemming from an arrest earlier this week.
As part of the bond conditions, First District Magistrate Daniel McGee prohibited Rambo from being within a mile of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, and from having guns and using drugs.
Prosecutors said Rambo was in possession of firearms and marijuana when police stopped a car in which he was a passenger Wednesday near the intersection of U.S. 95 and Appleway. That resulted in two drug charges against the 18-year-old.
He posted $600 bail, but was arrested again the following day by deputies who served a $250,000 warrant at the house where Rambo lived.
Deputies said Rambo had more firearms in the residence, as well as marijuana and paraphernalia. According to information on his cell phone, he was attempting to buy more guns, police said.
Deputy prosecutor Julia Schoffstall said making the mile-long radius around the Coeur d’Alene Police Department off limits to Rambo was a safety measure given Rambo’s propensity to use drugs and carry firearms, and because eight officers were involved in shooting Rambo in the Fourth of July incident.
“There are multiple officers involved and we think it’s appropriate,” Schoffstall said.
Defense attorney Rich Baughman rebuked prosecutors for preventing Rambo from being within a mile of the department, and for asking the judge to increase the bail amount.
The magistrate who set the initial bail heard the same arguments and opted for a lower amount, Baughman said.
“Now (prosecutors) are getting two free bites at the apple without proving any of this information at all,” Baughman said.
He had not seen the evidence that prosecutors alleged, Baughman said, and his client, knowing he would eventually face felony charges, had not attempted to flee.
“He’s at the point now, he’s not going to be running away,” Baughman said.
Rambo, who is in a wheelchair, appeared Friday for his first court appearances on the felonies via camera from jail. He told McGee he understood the charges. If he were to post bail, he agreed to the conditions of his release.
“Yes sir,” he said.
Prosecutors relayed for McGee the events that surrounded the July 4 shooting, saying that Rambo had engaged in a fistfight with another man at Independence Point, then pulled out a .357 revolver, pointed it at the head of the man’s girlfriend and then pointed it at the man and pulled the trigger.
At that range, Schoffstall said, “it was somewhat incredible (the other man) was not shot.”
Rambo then walked west from Independence Point. When confronted by law enforcement and told repeatedly to drop the weapon, Rambo pointed a gun at them and fired another round, she said.
That’s when eight officers opened fire.
Baughman told the judge his client was on “eight to nine medications and has five or six doctor appointments” lined up in Spokane within the next few weeks, and therefore going to jail would be prohibitive.
McGee, who had made out-of-state travel a prohibition as part of the bond, said he will allow Rambo to go to Washington for medical treatment.
More than 25 family members crowded into the small courtroom at the Justice Building at 324 W. Garden Ave. Bailiffs had to turn away people who wanted to watch the Friday afternoon proceeding.
McGee said he would set Rambo’s probable cause hearing within 14 days.
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