Gunman in North Idaho Police Shootout Accepts Plea Deal

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — An Arizona man accused of shooting at northern Idaho police officers on Interstate 90 last year has accepted a pretrial settlement.

The Coeur d'Alene Press reports that 25-year-old Marcus Rael entered an Alford plea Friday to four counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, admitting no guilt but acknowledging that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him. He was initially charged with was initially charged with 12 counts of assault with the intent to commit a serious felony.

Prosecutors say Rael refused to stop when Coeur d'Alene police officers tried to pull him over on June 22, 2014 for drunk driving. After a short pursuit they say Rael began shooting a semi-automatic AK-47 rifle and another rifle at officers. No officers were injured in the shootout. Rael was shot and injured.