Police: Woman threatened tenant over unpaid rent
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 4 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. | May 8, 2021 1:00 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — A woman is facing a felony charge after police said she threatened her tenant with a baseball bat over unpaid rent.
Moneeca J. Stuteville, 53, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with aggravated assault. Prosecutors also filed a deadly weapon enhancement.
Coeur d’Alene police responded Wednesday evening to a residence where a couple said they were attacked.
The couple told police they had recently moved into Stuteville’s basement. When rent came due on May 5, they were unable to pay.
Stuteville reportedly told the couple to leave. When they had not left by the late afternoon, Stuteville allegedly became angry and punched her male tenant multiple times.
The man told police Stuteville then tried to break into his bedroom using a hammer while he braced himself against the door to keep her out.
He said he walked outside when he heard a commotion and found Stuteville standing in the driveway with a baseball bat.
Stuteville allegedly ran toward him with the bat.
The man reportedly fled into the house and barricaded himself in his bedroom, where he remained until law enforcement arrived.
Stuteville told police her tenant punched her in the face when she tried to physically remove him from the bedroom.
She said she held the bat but did not threaten anyone with it, according to court documents.
Police arrested Stuteville at the scene.
Judge Anna Eckhart ordered Thursday that Stuteville be held on $15,000 bail.
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