Post Falls SWAT standoff leads to $200,000 bail for suspect

Tristan C. Evans, 28, is being held in the Kootenai County jail after a Saturday night incident in Post Falls that prosecutors say involved threats with a crowbar and prompted a Kootenai County Joint Agency SWAT Team response. Evans faces a felony aggravated assault charge, misdemeanors for resisting or obstructing officers and possession of drug paraphernalia, and a persistent violator enhancement that raises possible penalties substantially.

Prosecutors said Evans was staying at a home in Post Falls when, around 10:20 p.m., another occupant called authorities and reported that Evans had grabbed a crowbar and "started behaving erratically." The dispute escalated when Evans allegedly approached a household member and threatened to kill him. Deputies first tried to make Evans leave the residence; when he refused, the joint SWAT team was deployed. "After the deployment of distraction devices, the suspect surrendered without further incident," the sheriff’s office said.

At a court appearance Monday afternoon, First District Judge Destry Randles ordered Evans held on $200,000 bail, citing Evans' prior criminal history and the seriousness of the allegations. Evans appeared by video from jail. Judge Randles told Evans, "I have significant concerns about your ability to conform your conduct to subsequent requirements of the court." He added, "I also have some fairly significant concerns, given the potential penalty here, which is a life sentence, which I find would increase the risk of flight."

Prosecutors say Evans was recently released from prison in Washington and has three previous Washington felony convictions: an assault conviction in 2014, a harassment or threat to kill conviction in 2019, and an assault with a deadly weapon conviction in 2021. Under Idaho law, a person convicted of a felony for the third time is classified as a persistent violator. A third conviction with a persistent violator enhancement carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of life in prison.

The incident underscores two practical concerns for Kootenai County residents: the public safety risk posed when domestic disputes escalate to weapons threats in occupied homes, and how existing sentencing enhancements can influence courtroom decisions such as bail amounts. Deploying a SWAT response in a residential neighborhood also highlights the resource and community impact of high-risk calls, as well as local expectations for law enforcement transparency and accountability.

The takeaway? Track the case through the First District Court calendar and attend public hearings if you want local oversight. Pay attention to county-level policies on bail, persistent violator sentencing, and how returning residents from neighboring states are supervised; those policy settings determine both public safety and community trust. Our two cents? Stay informed, show up at hearings, and ask your elected county officials how they balance public safety with fairness in the justice system.