Sagle manhunt prompts Nixle alert

By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff

A manhunt in Sagle Saturday morning that prompted a Nixle alert ended without locating the man in question.

Around 10 a.m. a Bonner County Sheriff’s deputy attempted contact with Spencer Thomas James in the 7600 block of Sagle Road regarding three outstanding drug-related felony warrants for his arrest. James fled on foot, prompting a BCSO K9 team to begin a search. Deputies from the BCSO, Sandpoint Police and Ponderay Police units formed a perimeter around the area.

The effort was called off after an “extensive search” without locating James due to an increasing priority call volume, said BCSO Captain Tim Hemphill.

Hemphill said a Nixle notification was initiated to advise the public of the increased police activity and to help local residents be on the lookout for James.

“Although James does not generally pose an immediate threat to the public, we recognize that the behavior of subjects who are actively being pursued by law enforcement can be erratic, unexpected and out of character,” Hemphill said.