Rose Lake man held in attack on deputy

A Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputy was treated and released from Kootenai Medical Center after being attacked Monday morning by a man walking in the middle of Highway 3.

Deputy Tim Leeder was driving on Hwy. 3 when he encountered a logging truck and several cars traveling slowly near Watson Road. Leeder got out of his car to investigate and the man allegedly attacked him, hitting him several times in the face, according to a press release.

Leeder tried to use his Taser on the man, identified as 47-year-old Ralph E. Bender Jr., but one one of stun device’s electrical probes missed.

The logging truck driver and other motorists helped the deputy handcuff Bender, of Rose Lake, who was was booked into jail on charges of battery on an officer and resisting arrest.

– Taryn Brodwater

Coeur d’Alene

Water system purchase on agenda

The Coeur d’Alene City Council will vote tonight on whether to take over the Armstrong Park water system, a private system serving about 73 residents in the southeast neighborhood that overlooks Fernan Lake.

The city would borrow $400,000 from the city’s water fund to buy and upgrade the system. Armstrong Park residents would repay the money over 20 years by paying a $25 monthly surcharge.

Residents’ total water bill likely wouldn’t change because the city’s water fee is about $25 less than what they pay for the Armstrong Park system.

Armstrong Park’s water, street and wastewater systems remained private after the neighborhood was annexed by the city. Coeur d’Alene Water Superintendent Jim Markley said the owner of the private water system lives out of town, so response time to any maintenance problems or emergencies is often slow. He said all of the homeowners support the switch.

– Erica Curless

Photos released in stabbing case

Coeur d’Alene police have released photos of three men who are people of interest in the stabbing of a 21-year-old Coeur d’Alene man.

The photos, which are blurry, are posted on the Coeur d’Alene police Web site at www.cdapolice.org.

Nestor Cubillas-Ronquillo, who was attacked early Thursday near the Torch Lounge, was released from Kootenai Medical Center on Saturday.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Coeur d’Alene police at (208) 769-2320 or the tip line at (208) 769-2296.

– Taryn Brodwater