Detention sergeant charged with battery

Detention Sergeant Charged with Battery

Bryant Brown, a former Boundary County jail employee, faces an aggravated battery charge after authorities accused him of assaulting an inmate in January 2023. Despite the incident occurring early in the year, charges were only filed in September.

Legal Proceedings

Preliminary hearing scheduled for November 17 at the Boundary County Courthouse.
Previously scheduled hearings were canceled without explanation.
Brown, 37, posted a $50,000 bond and has yet to enter a plea.

Details of the Incident

The January 3, 2023 incident involved an inmate arrested by Bonners Ferry Police Department, who was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant from Kootenai County.

"The man was intoxicated and allegedly verbally abusive and uncooperative to jail staff," according to a probable cause affidavit by Sheriff's Detective Brandon Blackmore.

After a heated verbal exchange with Brown, the inmate returned to his holding cell. According to the affidavit, Brown then shoved the inmate against a glass window inside the cell and punched him, causing the inmate’s head to strike a brick wall.

The inmate reportedly tried to grab Brown’s arms to protect himself but did not resist otherwise. The affidavit further claims Brown grabbed the inmate’s throat with both hands and slammed his head into the brick wall.

Victim’s Identity

The Herald does not disclose the identities of victims in criminal cases.

Summary

This case highlights serious allegations of excessive force by a detention officer against a detained individual at Boundary County jail.

Author’s Summary: Former jail employee Bryant Brown faces aggravated battery charges after allegedly assaulting an inmate in 2023; legal proceedings are ongoing with significant concerns about use of force.

Bonners Ferry Herald — 2025-11-06