Police arrest man in home-invasion attack

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint Police arrested a North Idaho man Tuesday after he allegedly burst into a home and attacked its occupants with pepper spray.

Randy Carl Eiland was arrested on suspicion of battery with intent to commit a serious felony, according to Chief Corey Coon.

The break-in occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. in the Northshore housing development on the southwest side of town.

“The suspect kicked in the door and went after the homeowners. The homeowners were able to get themselves locked in the bedroom, but in the process of doing it the suspect ended up spraying the homeowners,” said Coon.

The family — a father, mother and daughter — were able to call 911. Eiland, meanwhile, was located near the corner of U.S. Highway 2 and Ridley Village Road, a short distance north of Northshore.

A man walking in that area matched the description given by the homeowners.

“When the officers got on scene and started talking to him, they could smell what they thought was pepper spray,” Coon said.

Moreover, the man’s eyes were watering and his nose was running, which are symptoms of exposure to oleoresin capsicum, the inflammatory agent in self-defense spray.

A motive for the break-in and alleged attack was not clear on Tuesday.

“He’s not talking. The suspect’s denying being in the house,” Coon said.

Burglary is suspected as a possible motive, but Coon said most burglars make a hasty retreat when they encounter occupants of a residence.

“This suspect did the opposite,” said Coon.

The nearby Forrest M. Bird Charter School went into lock-down mode, while Washington Elementary School went into lock-out mode during the brief hunt for the suspect.

Aside from the effects of the OC spray, the family was not physically injured, Coon said.

It’s the first reported home-invasion incident within the city limits in years, perhaps even decades.

“This is the first one that I’m aware of,” said Coon.

A search of archived news reports dating back to 1999 turned up no similar incidents and showed that robbers have tended to target commercial establishments.

Eiland, a 50-year-old with a last known residence in Post Falls, is expected to make an initial appearance today in Bonner County Magistrate Court.