Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 27th
SPOKANE, Wash - An attorney for Patrick Budig says the warrant for Budig's arrest has been suppressed and he is no longer wanted by police. Budig's attorney says the warrant issued for his client was never for 3rd degree assault contrary to what police released to the public. Rather a warrant for unpaid funds stemming from an assault case, Budig was not taken in to custody. Budig has since been "trespassed" from the NIC campus and not allowed back on without a police escort. Thursday morning's hearing in Spokane was the first contact Budig had with authorities since police were searching for him two weeks ago after an alleged "veiled" threat. PREVIOUS COVERAGE COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho-Police search for a North Idaho College student who allegedly made "Veiled" threat. 33-year old Patrick Budig AKA Patrick Kinnunen allegedly made an off the cuff statement or threat to a disabilities counselor who worked off campus about the columbine shootings. That after police say Budig was frustrated with NIC after it had taken disciplinary action against him. The comment was allegedly made Friday but police discovered Budig had outstanding warrants and a criminal history which intensified the search, Campus officials and police were waiting for Budig as he was scheduled to attend a Monday morning class at 10 AM but never showed up. The NIC campus was never in lockdown, and students were not immediately notified because police and campus officials believed there was no "immediate" threat and Budig was in Spokane on Monday despite a heightened police presence on campus. Budig was arrested in 2008 for threatening to kill a Spokane County judge. According to Coeur d'Alene Police Budig also has been arrested on assault charges in the past. Officials with NIC confirm Budig was someone who was "on the radar" of campus security after recent incidents but would not elaborate on exactly what. General students at NIC do not need to go through a criminal background check to become enrolled with the exception of some studies like law enforcement. Because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, NIC officials could not release information to KHQ about what classes Budig was enrolled in. NIC officials confirm that Budig has since been "Trespassed" from campus, essentially kicked off and not allowed back unless with a police escort. Budig was scheduled for a court appearance in Spokane county this morning, further reason Coeur d'Alene police believed he was not in North Idaho. However Budig failed to show up for his court date.
