During a town-hall meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Teresa Borrenpohl, a former Democratic candidate, was forcibly removed after heckling speakers. Local sheriff deputies initially asked her to leave, threatening arrest. Private security personnel from Lear Asset Management, not visibly marked as security, subsequently dragged her out while she protested. The event escalated over divisive topics like abortion. Organizers stated Borrenpohl was disruptive, but she claimed her free speech rights were violated. Following the incident, Lear’s business license was revoked, and an investigation is ongoing. Initially charged with battery, Borrenpohl’s charges were later dropped.
During a town-hall meeting organized by local Republicans in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a woman was actively heckling speakers and voicing her opinions. The local sheriff requested her to leave, even physically pulling her arm at one point and threatening arrest, as documented in videos that surfaced online.
Shortly after, several men in black jackets, who were not affiliated with local law enforcement, approached the woman, yanking her off her chair and pulling her to the floor while she shouted for clarification on who they were. Ultimately, they dragged her out of the auditorium.
The woman, Teresa Borrenpohl, a former Democratic candidate for Idaho state office, argued that everyone should have a voice at local political events. However, the organizers from the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee contended that she repeatedly disregarded the established rules.
The disruption within the high school auditorium occurred against a backdrop of rising tensions nationwide, where discussions on contentious issues like abortion, immigration, and diversity, equity, and inclusion have become increasingly heated.
Approximately 450 individuals were present at the town hall on Saturday afternoon, according to Brent Regan, chair of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. Mr. Regan stated that he informed attendees that the event was “a private gathering,” and that anyone causing disruptions would be removed by security. “People were made aware of the rules,” he mentioned.
The individuals who removed Ms. Borrenpohl have been recognized by the Republican committee and local law enforcement as plainclothes security from Lear Asset Management, Inc., a private security company based in California. Following the incident, the City of Coeur d’Alene revoked the firm’s license, leading to a police investigation, as noted by Sgt. Jared Reneau, a spokesperson for the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
“I could never have imagined my freedom of speech and the right to assemble could be taken away in such a violent manner,” stated Ms. Borrenpohl, who resides in Post Falls, Idaho, and has a background in education. She has not been available for comment.
Mr. Regan mentioned that additional security had been arranged due to a bomb threat made against a Republican lawmaker participating in Saturday’s panel. He noted that the security firm “offered their services” and was not officially contracted by the committee.
Founded in 2012, Lear is a private security company licensed across multiple states, specializing in business and property security according to its website. Requests for comment from Paul Trouette, the CEO of Lear, went unanswered.
During the town-hall meeting, lawmakers discussed their legislative initiatives, including Medicaid expansion and school vouchers. Tensions began to rise when one speaker addressed the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. In Idaho, abortion is largely illegal.
“Women are dying,” yelled Tamara Sines-Kermelis, a friend of Ms. Borrenpohl, at the town hall. Others soon began to shout and interrupt the speakers, prompting the moderator to admonish those making “stupid remarks,” as shown in the online videos.
“Is this a town hall or a lecture?” Ms. Borrenpohl exclaimed multiple times.
Shortly after, Sheriff Robert Norris of Kootenai County approached Ms. Borrenpohl, instructing her to leave and threatening her with arrest and pepper spray, as depicted in the videos. Sheriff Norris asked a man in plain clothes to film him introducing himself to Ms. Borrenpohl while attempting to escort her out.
When Ms. Borrenpohl resisted leaving, Sheriff Norris gestured to two men beside him, who then approached her and grasped her arms. She asked them for their identity and whether they were sheriff’s deputies, according to recordings of the incident. Sheriff Norris, who remained in the aisle filming the situation, did not respond.
Ms. Sines-Kermelis, who was nearby and recorded the incident, noted that the men were not clearly identified as security personnel. “Everyone around her was asking, ‘Who are you? Where are your badges?’” she remarked, adding, “It was frightening.”
At one stage, the two Lear security guards were on top of Ms. Borrenpohl, attempting to restrain her hands with zip ties while she lay on her stomach in the aisle, as described by Ms. Sines-Kermelis and corroborated by her video footage. As this occurred, some audience members cheered.
Subsequently, the security personnel dragged Ms. Borrenpohl out of the auditorium and into the hallway. She was taken to the emergency room following the incident, according to Ms. Sines-Kermelis.
Lear’s business license has been revoked due to a violation of city regulations, which state that security uniforms must be clearly marked with the word “Security,” Sgt. Reneau confirmed.
An ongoing investigation into the events of the meeting is being conducted, Sgt. Reneau stated.
The sheriff’s office announced it would initiate an independent investigation but provided no further details.
“The sheriff maintains that he acted appropriately,” said Lt. Jeff Howard, spokesperson for the Kootenai County sheriff’s office.
Initially, Ms. Borrenpohl faced charges of battery, accused of biting the finger of a security officer during the incident. However, Sgt. Reneau later indicated that the charge had been dismissed as more information and video evidence came to light.
Susan C. Beachy contributed research.