A string of calls to the sheriff's office Sunday
over a period of hours regarding a well tanned,
shirtless man with a skateboard at various
locations on the South Hill in Bonners Ferry
ended at 6:19 p.m. with the visitor to the
county becoming a guest of the county.
Despite the best efforts of police to get him
settled down, a very bonhomie Jason York, 39,
last known address Pocatello, was treated to a
stay in the county jail for pedestrian under the
influence.
In the Safeway parking lot earlier in the
afternoon, people waiting in rigs were rolling
up their windows and calling 911 to report his
effusive but erratic behavior. Those unfortunate
enough to be caught outside tended to be polite
and listen ... but most soon bustled off.
"Hey!" he'd yell to whomever he saw. "How's it
going?"
If you looked up at "hey," he launched his
spiel.
"See this?" he'd almost yell, pointing at his
peeling shoulder, sunburn well on its way to a
dark tan. "I fell off a 40-foot cliff!"
Those too polite to ignore him then learned, ad
infinitum, that he was staying in a camper with
friends "over there," and that his dog was
hungry.
"You got a dollar? My dog is starving!"
While Bonners Ferry folk are typically both
polite and willing to help those in need, it
seemed a bit eccentric to many that instead of
waiting for a dollar to be offered, or at least
stick around for a polite refusal, the man would
spot another "customer," his eyes would flash
and his grin shine, and off he'd dash ... with
exactly the same lines, to accost yet another
patron.
Don't forget, he was carrying a skateboard.
Adorned front and back as a can of Pabst Blue
Ribbon.
"Hey! How's it going? Look at this!"
Sporadic calls had been made earlier in the day
regarding a person matching the description and
manners, up and down the South Hill, but police
were always a step behind an obviously impaired
man who was also highly energetic.
When informed by dispatch of the latest rash of
calls, the officer on duty was out of his rig,
conducting a routine traffic stop on Monroe
Street.
"Is this a call about a nuisance or a traffic
hazard?" he asked.
"I don't know," the dispatcher replied. "I've
had so many calls I can't really tell, and I
haven't had time to ask."
The officer did locate Mr. York, who took him to
the camper where he was staying with friends,
and his dog. After talking to everyone but the
hungry dog, he left York to sleep it off under
the watchful eyes of his fellow travellers.
Apparently, though, the dog was hungry, and
insisting on being fed.
Mr. York was taken into custody riding his
skateboard south ... erratically ... on Highway
95 at LaBrosse Hill Road, and given a ride to
much safer accommodations.
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