[Vision2020] Aggravated Battery Arrest in Deary

[Jennifer McFarland]

Media Release

To: All media outlets
From: Jennifer L. McFarland
	Public Information Officer
Date: May 21, 2006
RE: Aggravated Battery/Felony Domestic Violence Arrest in Deary

On 5/20/2006 at about 23:08, The Latah County Sheriff's Office received a
report of a domestic battery in front of Bailey's Bar in Bovill, Idaho.
According to deputy reports and affidavits, Tracey L. Ferguson (a 39
year-old Juliaetta man), had battered his 40 year-old girlfriend in front of
the bar then forced her into his vehicle, driving off toward Elk River along
with a male passenger.  On the way to Elk River, Ferguson verbally berated
the woman and lost control of his vehicle, driving it into a ditch.  The
woman said she got out of the vehicle and started to walk toward Bovill, but
was suddenly struck from behind by the vehicle (with Ferguson driving it).
She rolled into the ditch on the side of the road and Ferguson got out of
the vehicle and picked her up and put her back into it.  This was confirmed
by the other male with them at the time. Ferguson dropped the male off in
Bovill before proceeding toward Deary.  Between Bovill and Deary, Ferguson
allegedly struck the woman in the face several times-one blow knocked out
one of her front teeth.  The woman reported that she tried to convince
Ferguson to stop so she could find her tooth, and when he did, she jumped
out of the vehicle (in Deary) and started to run down the road.  The woman
said she had run about half a block when she heard a gunshot, so she walked
back toward the vehicle fearing Ferguson had shot himself.  The woman saw
that Ferguson was not in the vehicle when she got to it and she heard
footsteps approaching her, so she hid behind a tree.  She saw Ferguson
approaching her but did not see a weapon in his hands; he then sat down near
her while calling her name.  Ferguson then quietly lay down on the ground.
The woman reported that she crept away and found a friend's house where she
thought she would be safe.

Ferguson had already been arrested for DUI by the time deputies located the
woman.  Ferguson was also charged with Felony Domestic Battery and for
Aggravated Battery (also a felony).  This case remains under investigation.


PIO Jennifer L. McFarland
Latah County Sheriff's Office
Public Information Officer
PO Box 8068
Moscow, Idaho 83843
(208) 882-2216
Fax (208) 883-2281

Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.
***Ralph Waldo Emerson