Man faces felony drug charges
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 9 months AGO
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | December 18, 2020 1:00 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — Police reportedly arrested a man this week who said he was already going to jail.
Scott R. Austin, 48, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and introducing major contraband into a correctional facility, both felonies.
Police responded Tuesday morning to a report of a suspicious person, later identified as Austin, outside a Coeur d’Alene residence.
When contacted by police, Austin reportedly appeared confused and said he was “going to jail,” though he was unsure why. He allegedly told police he had used meth and agreed to let an officer search him.
Police said Austin had a small package of marijuana in his pocket and arrested him at the scene.
At the Kootenai County Jail, staff allegedly found a small plastic bag among Austin’s belongings that contained a white substance they said was meth.
Austin told police he did not know what the substance was or who it belonged to, according to court documents.
Judge Ross Pittman ordered Wednesday that Austin be held on $70,000 bail.
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