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Disturbing the peace charge after hail of
bullets |
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October 31, 2017 |
A man identified by neighbors as a retired law
enforcement officer is facing a single
misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace after
several neighbors in the Frontier Village
Subdivision reported him spraying rounds from an
automatic firearm Sunday night, with bullets
reportedly hitting the homes and property of at
least three of them.
When the dust finally settled, no one had been
injured.
Ronald Joseph Wood, 61, 657 Frontier Village
Road, posted bond and was released soon after
being booked into the Boundary County Jail.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies,
including the sheriff's office, Bonners Ferry
Police Department, Border Patrol and Idaho Fish
and game responded to the neighborhood when
multiple calls of heavy gunfire began coming in
at about 7:33 p.m. October 29.
Medics from Boundary Ambulance staged at a
location nearby and firefighters from South
Boundary Fire responded to be on standby in case
their assistance was needed.
Sheriff's dispatchers, at the request of
deputies, called the home and were able to make
contact with Wood's wife, Darla, and both came
out of the home.
According to court documents, Ronald told
deputies that he "was on his own property and
shooting his AK-47 from his porch and not
bothering anyone." He denied shooting toward the
homes of his neighbors.
Meanwhile, records reveal, another officer was
dealing with Darla, who was "yelling and
screaming obscenities."
Both, the report states, were "heavily
intoxicated."
After interviewing several surrounding property
owners, a deputy informed Ronald that he was
under arrest and being charged with five counts
of disturbing the peace. The number was later
reduced to one count.
One neighbor new to the area told deputies that
he and Ronald were involved in a dispute over a
property line earlier that day and that Ronald
indicated he would get back at him.
After her husband was taken to jail, problems
continued; at 10:59 p.m., a neighbor called
dispatch and said Darla Wood was letting the
panic alarm on her vehicle continuously go off
and texting his wife calling them names. Darla,
in turn, called at 11:19 p.m. to request a
deputy, as her car alarm was sounding and "she
believes her neighbors are making up stories
regarding the arrest of her spouse."
At 11:42 p.m., and likely with an exasperated
sigh of relief, the deputy reported he was
clearing the scene and returning to the
sheriff's office.
Under Idaho law, one who disturbs the peace
guiltily; "maliciously and willfully disturbs
the peace or quiet of any neighborhood, family
or person, by loud or unusual noise, or by
tumultuous or offensive conduct, or by
threatening, traducing, quarreling, challenging
to fight or fighting, or fires any gun or
pistol, or uses any vulgar, profane or indecent
language within the presence or hearing of
children, in a loud and boisterous manner."
If convicted, such disturber could face up to
one year in county jail and/or a $500 fine. |
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