Police: Pushy peddler on the level

SANDPOINT — A persistent eastern European woman peddling educational materials in Bonner County appears to be ... a persistent eastern European woman peddling educational materials.

That’s the general consensus among officials from the Sandpoint and Ponderay police departments, in addition to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

The woman is from the Republic of Estonia and is living in north Idaho on a work visa, according to law enforcement. She is apparently selling materials door-to-door for Southwestern Advantage, a Nashville-based company that sells learning aids nationwide.

But questions and speculation have trailed the woman as she as canvassed neighborhoods in Sandpoint, Ponderay, Kootenai and Sagle, prompting calls to law enforcement about suspicious activity.

Some suspect she is casing homes for burglaries, while others suspect she is the victim of a human trafficking network that brings women to the U.S. for indentured servitude.

“The grapevine took effect and people are spreading the word about it, and it’s adding some confusion,” said Bonner County sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Flynn, who contacted the woman in response to complaints in Kootenai.

Flynn said the woman’s visa and identification are valid and she even consented to a search of her vehicle.

“Not only was everything extremely neat and orderly, but there was nothing suspicious,” said Flynn.

The woman had the materials for sale, in addition to receipts detailing each of her sales and a meticulous list of her sales contacts.

“For those that say, ‘I’m not interested,’ she crosses ‘em off. For people that don’t say, ‘I’m not interested,’ she puts a line under their name and goes back,” Flynn said.

The woman applied for and received a peddler’s permit to sell door-to-door in Sandpoint, said police Chief Corey Coon.

“She came in and filled out all her paperwork and brought in all of her IDs. She jumped through all hoops to get approval,” said Coon, noting that such efforts are overlooked by shadier types.

Ponderay Police Lt. Jimmy Cornelius said he also made contact with the woman, although she did not have a peddler’s permit for that city.

“She was advised to cease and desist until she got that,” said Cornelius.

Much of the pearl-clutching is occurring on social networking sites such as  Facebook.

But Bonner County residents are not alone in their suspicions of Southwestern Advantage, which routinely confronts rumors on its website and in the news media that its salespeople are human trafficking victims trying to lure more women into the racket.

Flynn said there was a report that somebody peered through a homeowner’s window after the woman stopped by, but said that report appeared to be unfounded. Moreover, there have been no burglaries reported at the homes she’s visited, something deputies have specifically looked for.

“Kudos to citizens for being aware of their surroundings, noting what’s going on in the community and calling us,” he said. “This one, it seems from my estimation, is completely above-board. There’s nothing nefarious going on.”