Detention Sergeant Charged with Battery
Bryant Brown, a former Boundary County jail employee, faces an aggravated battery charge after allegedly assaulting an inmate in January 2023. Charges were filed months later, in September 2023.
Case Proceedings
- A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 17 at the Boundary County Courthouse.
- Two earlier hearings were canceled for unspecified reasons.
- Brown’s bond was set at $50,000 and has been posted.
- He has not yet entered a plea.
Incident Details
The alleged assault occurred following the arrest of an inmate who was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant from Kootenai County. The Bonners Ferry Police Department made the arrest on January 3, 2023.
According to a probable cause affidavit by Sheriff's Detective Brandon Blackmore, the intoxicated inmate was verbally abusive and uncooperative toward jail staff. After a heated verbal exchange with Brown, the inmate entered his holding cell.
Detective Blackmore's testimony states that Brown then shoved the inmate against a glass window in the cell and punched him, causing the inmate’s head to hit a brick wall. The inmate tried to stop the blows by grabbing Brown’s arms but did not otherwise resist.
The affidavit further alleges that Brown grabbed the inmate’s throat with both hands and slammed his head into the brick wall.
Privacy Note
The Herald does not disclose the names of victims in criminal cases.
Author's Summary
This case highlights serious allegations against a jail employee accused of violently assaulting an inmate, illustrating ongoing concerns about inmate treatment in detention facilities.