SUBJECT: Suspect Apprehended 

Date: February 14, 2003

On February 14, 2003 at approx 02:00 hrs Officer John Mason of the Post Falls Police Department observed a blue Jeep Cherokee parked at the Flying J truck stop located at 400 N Idahline Rd In Post Falls.  Officer Mason felt the vehicle was suspicious due to the fact that it was running and appeared to be unoccupied.  Upon running the Utah license plate displayed on the vehicle, the return came back fictitious showing the license plate belonging on a Ford Econoline van.  Suspecting the vehicle was stolen Officer Mason approached the vehicle to confirm the Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N) and discovered a male sleeping in the back of the Jeep Cherokee.  The male was contacted and identified by a Colorado I.D. card as 49-year-old Jerry K Prejean.  Further investigation revealed that the Jeep Cherokee was reported stolen out of Colorado and that Mr. Prejean had a Felony Warrant out of the Colorado reporting him as a violent escaped prisoner from the Department of Corrections.  During the contact Officer Mason reported that Mr. Prejean was denied several requests to be allowed to enter back into the vehicle to shut it off.  Later inventory of the vehicle   revealed a loaded .45 Cal semi-automatic handgun hidden between the front seats of the vehicle.  The handgun was later confirmed stolen out of the state of Utah.

Mr. Prejean was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Kootenai County Jail for the active fugitive from justice warrant, possession of a stolen vehicle, grand theft and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Lt. Mclean 773-6340

AUTHOR: Lt. Mclean