COEUR d’ALENE — A man is seeking $2.5 million in damages from Kootenai County, alleging that Sheriff Bob Norris violated his constitutional rights by removing him from a legislative town hall and zip-tying his hands after he spoke against the actions of then-unidentified security personnel.

Gregg Johnson filed a notice of tort claim against Kootenai County and Bob Norris on Aug. 20, according to public records obtained by the Press. A tort claim is not a lawsuit, but rather a precursor to a lawsuit against a governmental agency. 

“The First Amendment is essential to our Republic,” Dan Sheckler, Johnson’s attorney, told the Press on Wednesday. “A sheriff cannot retaliate against citizens for objecting to how a woman is physically treated at a political event. The power of the badge cannot become a political weapon to silence dissent.” 

The Feb. 22 legislative town hall organized by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee made national news after unidentified, plainclothes security personnel dragged Post Falls resident Teresa Borrenpohl from the Coeur d’Alene High School auditorium for shouting out of turn. 

The private security guards who dragged Borrenpohl out of the auditorium — Paul Trouette, Russell Dunne, Christofer Berg and Jesse Jones — were charged in April with the misdemeanor crimes of battery and false imprisonment. 

The security guards have pleaded not guilty. The criminal cases were joined together this week. A jury trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 15. 

Borrenpohl has also filed a tort claim with the county, seeking damages of at least $5 million. 

Borrenpohl entered the auditorium after the town hall began and sat in an empty seat to the left of Johnson, according to the tort claim. Some people in the audience cheered and jeered in response to remarks made by legislators. 

At one point, when Borrenpohl shouted out, Norris approached her and told her to leave. Norris then directed Johnson to move aside. Johnson complied, according to the tort claim, standing and stepping away. He then backed up farther, at Norris’ direction. 

After Borrenpohl declined to leave, Norris took her arm with both hands and attempted to pull her from her seat. He then appeared to direct the plainclothes security personnel to remove Borrenpohl. On video, Borrenpohl can be seen repeatedly asking the men to identify themselves. They did not.

Johnson was “alarmed” by the scene and concerned for Borrenpohl’s safety, according to the tort claim. 

“Johnson believed a woman was not being treated with the dignity and respect she deserved and was being handled in an excessive and unreasonable manner,” the claim said. 

Video recordings of the event showed what happened next. 

“Hey, leave her alone,” Johnson said as three men dragged Borrenpohl from her seat. 

Recordings showed Norris take hold of Johnson.

“Do you want to go to jail?” Norris said at one point. “You are going to jail.” 

Security footage showed Norris and Paul Trouette swiftly walking Johnson out of the auditorium while holding onto him, then push him against a wall. “With the assistance of Mr. Trouette,” the claim said, Norris spread Johnson’s legs and zip-tied his hands. 

The claim alleges that Norris retaliated against Johnson for speaking in defense of Borrenpohl and, in doing so, violated Johnson’s First Amendment rights. 

The tort claim asserts that Norris did not have authority to remove anyone from the school district’s property “unless making an arrest or otherwise detaining a person as provided by law.” Johnson had committed no crime and complied with Norris’ directions before the sheriff grabbed him, the claim said. 

Johnson alleges that Norris falsely arrested and battered him, causing him to suffer “reputational harm, public embarrassment, pain to his hips and knees, loss of liberty, mental anguish and other suffering.” 

Sheckler previously represented Rick Cramer, a Bonner County man who commissioners trespassed from public meetings last year. As part of a settlement agreement, Cramer received a public apology and $275,000 from Bonner County. 

“Idaho citizens know that when civil liberties are violated, government officials need to be held accountable,” Sheckler said. “With accountability, we tone down the temperature of our political climate so that our disagreements can be sorted out like adults, as our founders intended.”