A Kootenai County Sheriff’s K9 was shot and wounded during a Tuesday evening confrontation with an armed man who had reportedly approached children in a rural area east of Coeur d’Alene. The suspect, identified as Derek Robert Martin, 45, of Bonner County, was killed in a deputy-involved shooting that followed.

The incident began around 8:20 p.m. on August 4 near the intersection of Wolf Creek Lodge Road and East Alder Creek Road. Deputies responded after reports came in of an armed man making contact with children in the area. When a deputy located Martin, he pointed a firearm at the deputy before fleeing the scene.

K9 Appa was deployed to track Martin as the Kootenai County Regional SWAT Team moved into position. Martin fired multiple rounds during the pursuit, hitting Appa. Deputies engaged Martin in a shooting several minutes after the K9 was struck. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff Robert “Bob” Norris credited the K9 with shielding deputies from potentially fatal harm. “K9 Appa performed with exceptional courage and professionalism,” Norris told Big Country News. “His actions undoubtedly helped protect our deputies and officers from serious injury or death.”

The Idaho State Police is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting, which is standard procedure in Idaho for any deputy-involved use of deadly force.

No deputies were reported injured. The condition of K9 Appa following the shooting was not detailed in the initial information released by the agency.

Martin’s connection to the area and the nature of his contact with the children were not disclosed in information released by the sheriff’s office. The investigation remains active.

The shooting comes as Kootenai County has seen a broader uptick in violent incidents. As previously reported, homicide figures in Kootenai County rose sharply in 2025 even as overall crime declined across much of North Idaho. Separately, Post Falls recorded a notable jump in violent crime last year while Idaho statewide numbers trended downward.

Tuesday’s events underscore the dangers law enforcement officers and their K9 partners face when responding to armed individuals, particularly in rural areas where backup distances can add critical minutes to response times.

Category: News | Law Enforcement

Byline: North Idaho Republican Staff