A solid
investigation and superb cooperation from downtown business owners led not only
to the arrest of a Coeur d’Alene man, but to incriminating evidence that could
link Jason Abraham Hill, 31, (left*) to additional crimes in Coeur d’Alene.
February 23, 2004
A solid
investigation and superb cooperation from downtown business owners led not only
to the arrest of a Coeur d’Alene man, but to incriminating evidence that could
link Jason Abraham Hill, 31, (left*) to additional crimes in Coeur d’Alene.
During preliminary hearing before Judge Justin Julian, sufficient evidence was produced to bind Hill over for a jury trial on charges of burglary and grand theft by possession.
Bonners Ferry Police Officers Marty Ryan and Don Moore were called to respond to The Gallery, 7180 Main, at approximately 5 p.m. January 30, where Pamela Regehr reported that several penknives had been stolen. Regehr said that the display case they’d been in had been closed at 3 p.m. when she passed by to accept a UPS delivery, but that she found the door open at about 4 p.m. and the items missing. She provided a description of the only man who’d been in the shop during that time, a man who’d earlier left without making a purchase.
Regehr had also found on the floor an unopened package on the floor containing a pair of tweezers and a price tag from LaMar’s. The officers took the package to LaMar’s, where clerk Amber Chase identified the tweezers as a brand new item, none of which had yet been sold. After hearing the description provided by Regehr, Chase was able to confirm the man had been in the store earlier, and provided more details.
On February 2, Regehr reported even more items missing; over 40 necklaces and pendants valued at over $1,000. Later that day Moore paid a domestic call to a residence at the Aspen Apartments, and while checking living conditions in the home, he found a man in the back bedroom matching the description provided by Regehr and Chase. The man identified himself as Jason Hill, and allowed Moore to photograph him, but refused to consent to a search. While talking, Hill told Moore his car was parked behind the apartments. Again, he refused consent to search.
Moore drove around and found the car, but when he called it in, the license plate didn’t match the vehicle. When Hill was unable to produce ownership documents, Moore had the vehicle impounded. Meanwhile, he took the pictures of Hill to the two Regehr and Chase, who positively identified the face in the photo as the man who’d been in their shops January 30. Regehr also identified a necklace Hill was wearing at the time the picture was taken as having been stolen from the Gallery. Based on this information, Moore was able to obtain a search warrant for the apartment, which turned up several of the items reported stolen and drug paraphernalia, and the car, which was searched the following day. In the trunk officers found a fanny pack with a credit card reported stolen in Coeur d’Alene, a toolbox full of burglary tools and a broken ignition switch.
An arrest warrant was issued, and Hill was taken into custody on $20,000 bond.
“This whole case was made possible thanks to the cooperation of the owner of the Gift Gallery and the staff at LaMar’s and the heads-up police work of Bonners Ferry Police Chief Dave Kramer and his officers,” prosecutor Jack Douglas said. “This is an example of a well prepared case and what we can do when we have a strong case.”
*Photo courtesy Boundary County Sheriff and available for use without permission.