Man accused of firing on relative

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly opening fire on a relative who bailed him out of jail in a pending felony assault case.

David Robert Brinkmeyer is charged with assault with intent to commit murder. Judge Lori Meulenberg set Brinkmeyer’s bail at $500,000 on Thursday and ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim, court records indicate.

The shooting occurred the same day Brinkmeyer was slated to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in a pending felony assault case.

Brinkmeyer’s son-in-law told sheriff’s deputies he learned from the defendant’s ex-wife that he had no intention of attending the preliminary hearing. The alleged victim said he went to Brinkmeyer’s home to give him a ride to court and ensure that the bail he posted was not forfeited, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The alleged victim said Brinkmeyer came onto the porch, told him he was not welcome there and retrieved a pistol. Brinkmeyer returned to the porch and opened fire on the alleged victim, who by that time was reversing out of the driveway.

A neighbor who heard the commotion told dispatchers she heard as many as five gunshots. The alleged victim was surprised he was not hit by the gunfire, the affidavit said.

Brinkmeyer, 60, allegedly admitted to dispatchers that he opened fire because the alleged victim came roaring into his driveway at 50-60 mph. He told dispatchers that he put the gun away and would be putting on some Johnny Cash music to relax, the affidavit states.

In an interview with deputies, Brinkmeyer said he shot into the air and would have hit the alleged victim with gunfire if that was indeed his intent.

Brinkmeyer’s criminal troubles began on Aug. 8, when he allegedly threatened the occupants of a pickup truck with a double-barrel shotgun after they drove past his Old Stagecoach Road home to gain access to the Priest River.

Brinkmeyer allegedly unleashed a shotgun blast directly above the vehicle, which contained two adults and two minors. Brinkmeyer lifted the firearm to his shoulder and trained it directly at one of the adults after he was told not to point the gun at them, an affidavit in that case further alleges.

Brinkmeyer admitted firing the blast into the air but said he did not remember pointing the shotgun at anybody, court documents indicate.

Doubts have been raised about Brinkmeyer’s capacity to assist in his own defense, according to court documents.

Deputy Public Defender Dan Taylor successfully moved for a mental health evaluation after meeting with Brinkmeyer, who allegedly rambled nonsensically perceived threats to him and his access to the river.