Deputy in town for firearms training accidentally fires weapon in hotel room

By Greg Meyer

Story

Summary

Bonner County deputy was practicing with his .40 caliber Glock in his Inn America room in Lewiston, but he forgot to unload it and it fired a shot though his wall and into another room.

Story Published: Sep 21, 2010 at 3:12 PM PST

Story Updated: Sep 22, 2010 at 6:47 AM PST

LEWISTON - There were some anxious moments late Monday afternoon, as police responded to a frantic call from a desk clerk of shots fired at the Inn America on 21st Street.

It turns out, it was an errant shot from a weapon fired by a Bonner County deputy who's in town for firearms training.

Lewiston Police Captain Roger Lanier said the deputy was in his room practicing what are called dry firearm drills, but had not made sure the gun was unloaded.

The .40 caliber Glock Model 22 semi-automatic went off. The bullet went through a mirror, the wall and lodged in the wall of an adjacent room.

Fortunately the person in that room was in the shower, did not even hear the shot and was not injured. He did notice some drywall dust when he came out of the shower.

Lanier said no one else was in the deputy's room. He said Lewiston Police conducted an investigation and determined the accident was not reckless discharge of a firearm, which is a crime.

The Bonner County Sheriff's Office is doing its own internal review.

Lanier said officers from around the state are in town all week for the training at the LPD training center put on by the Idaho Peace Officers Standard Training (POST).