Shooting paints a disturbing picture

This piece is, one man’s attempt to shed some light on what is a very sad and scary incident that took place, in early August of this year, at Bonner General Health (our hospital) in the heart of our beloved town.

Many of the intricate details of what took place are being withheld. With the release of the report from a review done by the prosecutor’s office in Coeur d’Alene, we know enough to question the integrity of both Sandpoint Police’s version of events and this review by what clearly looks like a biased prosecutor. Barry McHugh was asked by Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon to look at a very narrow definition of criminal wrongdoing. Basically asking whether the officers that pulled the trigger and killed Jeannetta Riley broke the law.

Officers Sylar Zieglar and Michael Valenzulea shot five bullets at a her, striking her three times from a distance of only 10-12 feet (three to four steps). The basic timeline and facts, as I understand them are: a loving husband, seeing that the mother of his children needed professional help for a mental breakdown, brought her to the hospital for an evaluation. After she leaves the hospital, she walks to her van. She is then reported to be carrying a knife, talking and acting in a threatening way.

The police dispatch, reports that this patient is sitting alone in the passenger seat of a van in the parking lot. In my opinion, the wrongdoing starts here.

This is where things could and should have been done differently. Officer Zieglar arrives alone, in his cruiser, pulls up and gets out with his service revolver at the ready. At this point Jeanneta in her delusional state is allowed to step out of the van. The other officer and a trainee arrive about this time showing a rifle. Seeing this must have terrified her to the point, that she moves toward them, still carrying the knife. Without a previously thoughtout plan, the police decide to open fire on her at point blank range, killing her instantly. These are the circumstances as we know them today.

Many in the public are asking how could this happen and why has there not been an independent and unbiased inquiry of such an unnecessary shooting. Apparently the police chief has been told to not address any questions on the advice of his lawyers working for the city. The family is distraught knowing that they have lost a loved one, at the hands of a careless and indifferent police department, and no one is being held accountable for Jeanetta’s death. Here in Sandpoint, the citizens hold each life, as treasure worth preserving. We must stand up with one voice and say never again.

DANIEL MIMMACK

Sandpoint