Norris did his job at town hall, AG says, and we agree

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris took a lot of criticism, including from this paper, for his handling of a situation in which a woman was dragged kicking and screaming from a legislative town hall meeting in February. 

A state investigating agency, however, says he handled it properly. Let’s review. 

By now, everyone has seen the video that shows Norris approaching Teresa Borrenpohl, speaking to her, pulling her by the arm, stepping back and then signaling security personnel to remove her. 

Then, things got very messy.  

It turned into a chaotic situation and was seen by many as an overreaction to someone accused of interrupting speakers at a meeting. It seemed Norris was at the center of it all. It led to legal action. 

Wendy Olson, an attorney for Borrenpohl, filed a tort claim with Kootenai County in April, which she then said "is the first step in the civil legal system for pursuing justice for Teresa and holding Lear Asset Management and Sheriff Norris responsible for the disturbing events that happened at the town hall event."

The tort claim says Borrenpohl is seeking damages of at least $5 million. 

An investigation was also launched by the Idaho Office of the Attorney General, which received complaints earlier this year related to the town hall hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee on Feb. 22.  

“The complaints asked us to investigate whether Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris committed a battery during the event. We are writing to inform you that, for the reasons explained below, we will not file charges against the sheriff,” according to a Nov. 3 letter to Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Stan Mortensen. 

Wait a minute. What? No charges. Hadn’t Norris acted out of turn? Misused his authority? Didn’t he overreact? Wasn't this all his fault?

Based on the AG’s findings, he did not. It was not. Norris acted within his authority.

Here’s a few excerpts of the report to explain how the office made its determination: 

• “In Idaho, the sheriff is the top law enforcement officer in his county ... As a peace officer, the sheriff cannot be charged with battery for “actions or omissions in the performance of [his] duties” so long as the sheriff “acts in good faith and without malice.” 

• The sheriff’s contact with Borrenpohl did not constitute a criminal act because he could lawfully make physical contact with Borrenpohl to arrest or remove Borrenpohl from the event for violating Idaho law when she refused to leave the event when asked. 

• The sheriff indisputably had law enforcement jurisdiction at the event held in a high school in Kootenai County. As the sheriff of Kootenai County, he has jurisdiction anywhere in the county. 

• At the very least, the sheriff had a good faith basis to believe he could remove Borrenpohl from the event without violating the First Amendment.  

• Idaho law allows the sheriff to “[c]ommand the aid of as many inhabitants of the county as he may think necessary in the execution” of his duties. I.C. § 31-2202(5).

That's a strong argument.

But this isn't over.

Olsen told The Press a lawsuit is coming on Borrenpohl's behalf. Greg Johnson, who was also removed from the town hall, filed a tort claim earlier this year seeking $2.5 million in damages from Kootenai County. 

We'll continue to follow the story.

But based on the AG's detailed report, we have to agree that no charges are warranted against the sheriff in his handling of the February town hall, and that he was doing his job as allowed by Idaho law.