Man arrested on charge of Domestic Aggravated Battery after coordinated search

On Feb. 22, officers with the Nez Perce Tribal Police Department responded to a reported Domestic Battery within the boundaries of the Nez Perce Reservation, according to their Facebook page.

At approximately 1:47 p.m., dispatch received information that a pregnant adult female had been assaulted near State Highway 7 between Orofino and Ahsahka. The victim was transported to Clearwater Valley Hospital for medical evaluation.

Officers learned that the victim and James Gene Pierre, 34, had recently been involved in a dating relationship and that the victim is pregnant with twins believed to be Pierre's children. The victim reported that Pierre assaulted her near the railroad tracks and State Highway 7 corridor, including throwing her to the ground and kicking her in the abdominal area. Medical personnel evaluated the victim and advised that she and the unborn children were stable at the time of examination.

A coordinated search effort was immediately initiated after assisting agencies observed Pierre flee on foot near mile markers 49-51 on Highway 7. The search involved the Nez Perce Tribal Police, Clearwater County Sheriff's Office, Orofino Police Department, Idaho State Police, and Clearwater County Search and Rescue. Multiple unmanned aerial drones equipped with thermal imaging were deployed, along with a fixed-wing search airplane and coordinated ground grid searches across the surrounding hillside and roadway. Evidence believed to be connected to the incident was located and secured during the operation. The search was suspended later that evening.

Pierre was subsequently located Feb. 23 by Nez Perce Tribal Police Officers, in Orofino. Pierre was taken into custody without incident, based on previously established probable cause for Domestic Aggravated Battery and related offenses. He was booked in at the Clearwater County Jail by the Nez Perce Tribal Police. This case will be forwarded to the Nez Perce Tribal Prosecuting Attorney's Office for charging review.

The Nez Perce Tribal Police Department remains committed to protecting victims of domestic violence and ensuring accountability for those who commit violent crimes within the Reservation. The Nez Perce Tribal Police want to thank the Idaho State Police, Orofino Police Department and the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office for their assistance.

This post is intended to provide the public with information about recent activities of the Nez Perce Tribal Police Department. It is important to remember that all individuals accused of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The charges listed in this post reflect the allegations made against the defendants at the time of their arrest, the post concluded.

Photo: James Gene Pierre