Crosswalk dispute ends in dismissal

Sandpoint officials won't say if worker faces reprimand

SANDPOINT - The case against a city street supervisor accused of berating a Sandpoint family after nearly colliding with them in a Fifth Avenue crosswalk is ending in a dismissal.

Chester Fern Jackman pleaded guilty to an amended charge of failing to obey a traffic direction, forfeited a $200 bond and had the charge dismissed, court records show.

Jackman, 51, was originally charged with failing to yield to a bicyclist in a crosswalk in connection with a Sept. 20, 2007, incident at Fifth and Cedar Street. He pleaded not guilty to the infraction.

A court trial had been scheduled for this month.

“There is no doubt we would have won it at trial. I think the charges were groundless,” said Jackman's attorney, Clark Peterson.

Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Valerie Fenton did not return a message seeking comment on the outcome of the case.

A Sandpoint couple, Jared Rasor and Kessin Drews, claimed Jackman almost crashed into them with a city vehicle as they pedaled across Fifth Avenue on bikes. The couple was riding with their 2-year-old daughter at the time.

The couple alleged Jackman exited his vehicle and began yelling and cursing at them. Jackman disputed the allegations and countered that he was the one who was yelled at and called foul names, according to a sheriff's deputy's report.

Both parties wanted charges pressed, but only Jackman was charged.

The couple said Sandpoint Police declined to act on a citation, but persisted by finding a section of Idaho Code applicable to Jackman's alleged offense. The matter was then turned over to the sheriff's office to eliminate the perception of a conflict of interest.

Neither Rasor nor Drews said they were advised of the agreement in their case. They learned of it through the media.

Drews, 25, said she was only looking for an apology.

“That's all I wanted. I have no other intentions except that I wanted acknowledgment that something wrong had happened, not just from him but from the city also,” Drews said.

The incident happened while Jackman was on the job and city code requires workers to treat all citizens with courtesy and fairness or face sanctions. Violating the code can result in suspension or termination of employment.

Mayor Gretchen Hellar declined to discuss the matter. A message seeking comment was never returned.

Peterson expressed doubt Jackman would be reprimanded over the episode.

“I believe the city is fully supportive of him,” he said. “It's a dismissal of the charges - you can't hold that against a guy.”