Shooting witnesses describe ‘crazy’ scene

Dallas Hays, 14, watched from a few hundred yards away as the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office SWAT team responded to a call about a suspicious male who was armed with a gun Tuesday in the Wolf Lodge area. 

“It was all pretty crazy,” he said. 

The call for service ended after the suspect, later identified as Bonner County resident Derek R. Martin, 45, died during a firefight with deputies. The Idaho State Police is still investigating the shooting. 

According to Hays, he received a call around 8 p.m. from a concerned friend who told him about the initial reports and the SWAT response. After walking down his driveway and seeing the action from the edge of his family’s property, Hays decided to stay and watch as the events unfolded. 

“We heard officers screaming and yelling. They said, ‘Come out with your hands up, come out with your hands up, deadly force will and can be used against you,’” he said.

After some time, Dallas was joined by his father, Clinton Hays, and Kelli Crane, who all sat on the steps near their mailbox and watched.

Approximately two hours later, Clinton received a shelter-in-place warning on his phone, after which he took his family inside their home for further safety. 

The Hayses were saddened to hear about K-9 Appa, who was shot and critically injured during the situation, and were pulling for his recovery.

“That’s just like losing their partner,” Clinton said. 

KCSO announced Thursday that Appa underwent two surgeries and had a good prognosis. He was released from veterinary care and is recovering with his handler and family. 

Crane said she felt comfort from knowing that the police showed up so quickly.  

“It’s good to know how serious they took it, I think, I mean there was no messing around,” she said. 

Even though there was danger quite close to his home and family, Clinton said he never felt truly scared. 

“We’re the safest in the country right now,” he said.

Clinton estimated that around 30 deputies had arrived at the call and that his neighbor, who is also a law enforcement officer, had blocked off a section of road to keep the danger contained to one area. 

He took pride in the police response, saying, “I just love our police. They don’t put up with nothing!”