Deadly threats prompted deputies' visit

SANDPOINT — Threats of imminent homicidal violence prompted Bonner County sheriff’s deputies to arrest a Blanchard man who shot and wounded them last month, according to unsealed probable cause hearing testimony.

Adam Deacon Foster’s mother told deputies that her son made remarks about intending to kill two of his neighbors on Mountain View Road. Foster also warned his mother that he would kill her if she tried to interfere with his plans.

“He also told her that she better not get in his way, better not stop him, and he made another comment that he was going to kill somebody today,” Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office major crimes Detective Brad Maskell said during a Jan. 25 hearing to present attempted first-degree murder charges against Foster.

As a result of Foster’s disturbing comments, Bonner County deputies Michael Gagnon, Justin Penn and William Craffey devised a plan to apprehend Foster on a year-old arrest warrant on battery charges, Maskell told Justin Julian. They pulled in behind Foster as he parked in his driveway on Jan. 16 and advised him he was wanted for arrest.

At gunpoint, Foster was ordered to surrender, but words were instead exchanged, Maskell told to the court. Foster ignored commands to surrender and repeatedly brought his hands down to his waistband. Gagnon holstered his service pistol, drew a Taser and warned Foster that he would discharge it if he failed to comply, Maskell said.

Foster, Maskell said, bolted toward his house and the three deputies gave chase. Video footage captured by body cameras worn by the deputies showed Foster round a corner of the home. When Gagnon rounded the corner, Foster was in a law enforcement-style shooting stance, waiting.

“As soon as Deputy Gagnon reveals himself coming around the corner, Mr. Foster then begins to discharge his weapon into the deputy,” Maskell said.

After shooting Gagnon, Foster trains his pistol on Penn, who was also shot and wounded.

“Both deputies, in the course of this, are able to return fire. Deputy Gagnon, from the ground, is able to retrieve his handgun and return fire,” Maskell said.

Foster, 31, was shot and wounded amid the fusilade. He was apprehended without further incident and the .44-magnum Ruger Redhawk revolver Foster had was recovered from his home’s front porch, according to court documents.

Five rounds were fired from the revolver, Maskell told the court. A sixth round in the cylinder appeared to have misfired.

While being questioned at Kootenai Health hospital, Coeur d’Alene Police asked Foster what his intended target was when he opened fire.

“His words were ‘center mass,’” Maskell said, referring to the mid to upper torso, an area where law officers and civilians alike are trained to shoot in order to neutralize an armed attacker.

Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Katie Murdock acknowledged that Foster’s prior criminal was relatively scant, but said during the hearing that Foster obviously posed a threat.

“He is a risk to the community, specifically law enforcement,” Murdock told the court.

Julian agreed, finding that the allegations clearly demonstrated that Foster was a threat to safety in the community.

“Also, the nature of the charges and penalties being faced would lead the court to believe that he would almost...I wouldn’t call it a flight risk but a flight guarantee,” Julian said as he set Foster’s bail at $2 million.

Criminal proceedings against Foster on indefinite hold while he undergoes a psychological examination to determine if he is capable of understanding the proceedings against him and if he can assist in his own defense. The evaluation was ordered after his defense counsel said Foster appeared to be struggling with differentiating between fantasy and reality.