Man charged with kidnapping, rape
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 2 months AGO
Chambers
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. | January 4, 2022 1:07 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — Police arrested a man who allegedly held a woman against her will for 12 hours, beat her and raped her.
An officer who observed the woman’s injuries wrote, “This was the most severe amount of injuries I had personally seen on a domestic violence victim in my career so far.”
Andrew R. Chambers, 35, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with attempted strangulation, aggravated battery, second-degree kidnapping and rape, all felonies.
Police responded Friday to a report from a woman who identified herself as Chambers’ girlfriend.
She told police Chambers picked her up from work Thursday evening, then drove her to an empty parking lot and refused to let her out of the vehicle.
Throughout the night, she said, Chambers repeatedly punched her, slapped her and choked her.
He sometimes let her step outside to put snow on her bruised face, she said, but then forced her to get back in the vehicle.
Police said the woman sustained numerous injuries, including two black eyes and large bruises all over her face, arms and legs.
Around 7 a.m. Friday — approximately 12 hours after the incident began — Chambers reportedly let the woman go because he had to leave for work.
The woman provided police with screenshots of threatening text messages Chambers had sent her, including messages that acknowledged the alleged domestic violence.
When contacted by police, Chambers allegedly said he frequently became violent with his girlfriend when he felt “disrespected” by her.
He said he also made “empty threats” to frighten her, according to court documents.
Chambers reportedly told police he argued with his girlfriend Thursday night because she had been talking about him with coworkers.
He said he knew this occurred because he had installed an app on her tablet in order to listen to her conversations and track her, according to court documents.
Chambers allegedly admitted to hitting the woman throughout the night, grabbing her throat and bruising her.
He also reportedly told police he had sex with the woman in the vehicle and probably caused additional bruises to her body.
Police arrested Chambers at his residence.
First District Judge Timothy Van Valin ordered Monday that Chambers be held on $250,000 bail.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual abuse, call Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center’s 24-hour hotline: 208-664-9303.
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