ISP investigating inmate's death

SANDPOINT — An Idaho State Police investigation is continuing into the death of an inmate at the Bonner County Jail last month.

Ward David Coble died while in custody on June 18. He was being held at the jail pending trial on a felony charge for eluding a sheriff’s deputy during a chase this spring.

Bonner County Sheriff’s lieutenants have repeatedly stonewalled inquiries about Coble’s death.

State police Det. Fred Swanson said the matter remains under investigation.

“We’re still awaiting an autopsy report and lab toxicology results,” Swanson said.

Coble’s defense counsel, Chief Deputy Public Defender Janet Whitney, said she also is awaiting word on what might have caused Coble’s death.

Coble was 50 years old.

He died three days after pleading guilty to driving under the influence on April 26. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail with 28 days suspended and credit for two days served. However, he remained held on the eluding charge, which stemmed from an April 29 incident on Highway 41 in Blanchard.

He was also awaiting trial on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge for allegedly battering his terminally ill wife on a number of occasions in April. He also abandoned the woman for extended periods of time even though she required round-the-clock care, a deputy’s report alleged.

Coble was served with divorce papers at the jail on June 2, court documents said. The woman cited “extreme cruelty” in her divorce filing.

The domestic battery and eluding charges were dismissed by the state because of Coble’s death, court records indicate.