BOISE -- An Emmett Police officer and her roommate have each been charged with two felony counts of injury to a child after two young child where struck by a bullet during an accidental shooting in their home last month.
Kim Judy, 30, and Whysper Rowden, 20, were arrested by Idaho State Police Tuesday morning. Judy was booked and released from the Canyon County Jail. Rowden was booked into the Gem County Jail, posted a $10,000 bond and was released.
"That's we did, is reviewed the case and filed what we believed to be an appropriate charge," said Shelley Armstrong of the Ada County Prosecutors Office.
Emmett detective Kim Judy and her roommate Whysper Rowden were arrested at their home.
Last week, Police Chief Steve Nebeker told KTVB, the shooting happened in a bedroom.
He says Rowden's three year old son got his hands on Judy's work gun and fired. The bullet went through the boy's thigh, through the hand of his two year old brother and lodged in his mother's arm.
"No arteries were hit, no bones were hit. Oh, man it could have been so much worse. Very fortunate for an unfortunate situation," Chief Nebeker said on August 30th.
The incident happened in rural Gem County but the prosecutors there wanted to avoid a conflict of interest so they asked Ada county to review the case.
Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Shelley Armstrong says she can not share details of what happened the day of the shooting.
But in court documents, she alleges Judy caused a dangerous situation to both children by leaving a loaded 9mm gun within the three year old's reach.
She alleges Rowden failed to supervise the three year old, who then hurt himself and his brother.
"Each count of felony injury to a child carries up to 10 years in prison, that would be considered the maximum sentence," said Armstrong.
Both women are scheduled to appear in front of Gem County judge later this month.
Meanwhile in Emmett, word of their charges spread fast.
Many we spoke with say it is a tragic incident.
"I know Kim Judy personally and I know that she's an outstanding individual. I think a lot of her and her family," said Dallan Johnson. "It was probably an accident, knowing Kim. It was something, maybe she was slightly negligent or something like that, but I don't know."
"I’m sorry to hear that it came to that. You've got to wonder why the gun was available to a 3-year-old or to any child. But she's a good police officer. I've seen her work and I'm really surprised by that, because she's always been very professional and does good work," said Dan Drooger.
The Emmett Police Chief says Judy is on administrative leave and an internal investigation continues.
If she violated department policy on firearm storage, disciplinary action could include termination.
Both Judy and Rowden were both released from jail Tuesday.
