County discloses security threat

SANDPOINT — County commissioners announced in Tuesday’s business meeting that they had received information of a threat June 18, to which they held an executive meeting to trespass the individual.  

Commissioner Asia Williams shared the information with the public, noting that the individual in question, Lawrence Morton, was trespassed from all Bonner County owned properties. According to executive session minutes relating to the trespass motion, Morton will be required to call ahead to the appropriate department prior to conducting any and all county business. If allowed on site, he will be escorted to transact business and promptly leave.   

The meeting minutes also indicate that Morton was trespassed due to threats of injury to Bonner County personnel.  

In discussing the threat, Williams noted the emergency meeting that allowed Commissioner Ron Korn to make a motion to trespass Morton, stating that it was done for the safety of staff and any individuals that come into the administrative building.  

“I know that people have made comments about the board having meetings that don't get posted so that people can see and participate, but we have to put the safety of the staff and those that come into our building first, and so hopefully people can understand that,” said Williams.  

She also announced changes that would take place in the county, starting with a sheriff's deputy in the building. Williams also nodded to changes in the assessor’s office and potentially the treasurer’s office but didn’t go into further detail. 

As of now, the individual in question is “no longer in the area,” according to Williams.  

“We want to also say thank you to Mike Nielsen's group, CSG, who came and helped out the county, as well as Sheriff (Daryl) Wheeler for picking up the ball to help us get things expedited, as well as Sandpoint Police Department, who, although may not have been visible to a lot of people, never left the county until that threat was removed from the county,” said Williams.  

More information on the threat has not yet been disclosed to the public.