The Coeur D Alene Police Department and Idaho State Police are seeking the public’s help in the 4th of July shooting at Independence Point. In a press release yesterday, Lee White announced:

After 45 days of trying to figure out how to charge the brown man we shot on the 4th of July, we have run out of ideas. We are therefore seeking the public’s help with ideas of what to charge him with. No idea is a bad idea, as long as it fits the truthful story that the CDA Police who shot the man had justification in doing so.

Here are the facts of the case so you can apply the correct charges. A.) 8 white people shot 1 brown man. B.) Because he was brown we assume he had a gun. It may have actually been a banana or a dildo. C.) None of the officers actually saw the man shoot anyone and there doesn’t appear to be a victim that he shot. D.) He now doesn’t have any legs. E.) He is one bad Hombre.

Based on these facts we believe the Coeur d’Alene public can be creative in applying Idaho statutes in order to bring this hardened criminal to justice.

The person with the best idea for charges will be awarded unlimited parking in the 15 minute parking spots at City Hall.

Some watchdog groups are concerned about White’s approach to this. An ACLU Spokesman commented that “We do not encourage the crowd sourcing of criminal charges. We actually think criminal charges should be based on probable cause and facts.”

The NAACP, who doesn’t have a chapter in Idaho due to “No black people living there” also submitted this statement from their nearest chapter in Spokane. “The NAACP is appalled that the Coeur D Alene Police Department and Idaho State Police would resort to public comment in order to trump up charges against this upstanding man of color. This is the equivalent of a public lynching in 1800’s Alabama. Idaho is better than this.”

Other critics are pointing to the last failed attempt by the CDA Police to source things from the people of Kootenai County. Late last year, in an effort to save money, the CDA Police commissioned CDA Public School children to produce artwork for the barren walls of their police station. Here’s what they came up with:

In an eerily predictive piece, Brent of Hayden Meadows submitted this drawing he called “4th of July in Coeur D Alene.”

Jenny O’Neill of Fernan Elementary came up with this one she called “My School Resource Officer.”

Billy Pittsworth of Lakes Middle School drew this picture he calls “The Day the Coeur D Alene Police Came to my House.”

When asked, Lee White defended his actions in both the artwork contest and the crowd sourcing of charges against the 4th of July suspect.

“We trust that the general public will always have other people’s best interest in mind. When they don’t we sensor and exclude them so other members of the public don’t know about them. For instance, with the art contest we discarded the drawings you mentioned and instead featured drawings of police officers hugging kittens. The same goes for crowd sourcing charges against the 4th of July suspect. If we receive comments that he might be innocent or should be charged with a minor crime, we will discard those comments for more truthful comments. For instance, we’ve already received this comment from Bob Jones in Rathdrum: “I think he should be charged with treason and hung by a rope on Independence Point next 4th of July. Let Freedom Ring.” These are really the type of suggestions we’re looking for.”

A Spokesman for the Idaho State Police agreed:

We really need the public to vehemently come out against this young man. That way when there’s a jury trial everyone will already be prejudiced against him. This public contest really helps with that.

All public submissions should be submitted to Lee White at:

Justice for the Bad Hombre Contest
3818 N Schreiber Way,
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815