Man faces drug trafficking charges

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man is in custody on a variety of charges, including drug trafficking, after Bonner County Sheriff’s deputies found him with over two ounces of meth in his possession.

Christopher Merritt Schultz, 32, was arrested in Oldtown on Sept. 10 for outstanding warrants from drug charges stemming from 2020. Wednesday, First District Magistrate Judge Justin Julian reduced Schultz’s bond to $25,000 after Schultz agreed to waive his right to a preliminary hearing. Schultz will progress through the court system for trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, obstructing officers, and paraphernalia charges. If convicted, he could receive up to a life sentence in prison and a $100,000 fine.

On Sept. 9, deputies were dispatched on a report of a suspicious person walking near Old Priest River Road near Highway 41. When deputies locate Schultz walking along the road shortly before midnight, they got out of their vehicle and began approaching Schultz. After he asked who they were, the pair told him they were deputies, prompting Schultz to turn around and start walking away. Walking turned into running, with the pursuit ending with deputies shocked Schultz with a stun gun.

Discovered was a small bag of heroin in Schultz’s front pocket. 2.9 ounces of crystal methamphetamine and 218.5 ounces of liquid methamphetamine were found in his backpack along with paraphernalia. Liquid methamphetamine can be consumed in its liquid form, but it is also used to creatively smuggle the drug in other liquids or be reduced into meth crystals.

Schultz was originally detained on a $150,000 bond, but it was reduced to $50,000 in Sept. and reduced again Wednesday to $25,000.

Schultz has a previous case in the Idaho Court System from May 2020 for drug related charges. That case is still active, and will likely be progressing through the court system along with the new charges.