Shotgun and drugs lead to arrests

BONNERS FERRY — Two individuals were arrested after a shotgun and drugs were found following an alleged incident at Bonners Ferry High School.

Jacob Cook, driving a black Toyota pickup with no visible registration, was stopped by Bonners Ferry Police Officer Travis Stolley on Sept. 21 in the parking lot of the Kootenai River Inn. In his report, Stolley said he was contacted by the high school principal, Kevin Dinning, who reported Cook as being on school property and threatening a student. Cook also allegedly made several threats toward the student by text message in the days prior to the reported incident.

Stolley reported an officer caution is posted in the Boundary County Sheriff's Office stating Cook was possibly in possession of a pistol. Upon making contact with Cook, Stolley requested Cook get out of his pickup and walk toward the patrol vehicle. The officer patted down Cook and found a pocket knife. It wasn't until a second officer showed up, Sgt. Robert Goad, that the apparently loaded shotgun was discovered in the pickup.

Goad spoke with the passenger in the vehicle, Collin Vickers. When Goad asked Vickers to put his hands up, Vickers reported laughed and asked, "What? Why?" During a search for weapons on Vickers person he found none, but did not remove the other items he could feel in Vickers' pockets. 

Cook and Vickers were handcuffed and placed in separate patrol cars. Another juvenile passenger was questioned and later taken back to the high school by another officer.

Vickers was released by Goad after questioning, but when Goad did a search in the back seat of the patrol car as Vickers walked away, he discovered a bag containing a white powder believed to be methamphetamine. According to Goad's report, he searched that area routinely after each person is in the backseat and had searched it after the last person had been there, so he was certain it came from Vickers. When called back to the scene by Goad, Vickers reportedly accused the officer of placing it there.

Vickers was again handcuffed and placed in the back seat. He was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and Cook was charged with misdemeanor possession of a firearm on school property.

Cook has a long history in Boundary County of arrests and citations for petit theft, battery, disturbing the peace, domestic violence and more. Vickers has one prior arrest in Boundary County for theft by receiving, possessing or disposing stolen property. After entering a plea of guilty on Aug. 18, he is scheduled to be sentenced on that charge Nov. 7. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the controlled substance charge on Oct. 14.

Cook's pretrial is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 17 with a jury trial scheduled for Nov. 22.