Idaho couple accused of violating order with yard sale

RATHDRUM, Idaho (AP) - An Idaho resident was issued a citation after authorities say she was in violation of Republican Gov. Brad Little’s stay-at-home order after continuing with a yard sale despite warnings.

Rathdrum Police Chief Tomi McLean said homeowner Christa Thompson asked authorities if the yard sale would be in violation and proceeded to post the sale information on Craigslist before being given a written warning, the Coeur d’Alene Press reported.

Thompson and husband Peter Thompson continued the yard sale, selling items from a collection of household goods and miscellaneous items that came from a late relative’s storage units, authorities said.

Officers returned to the home to issue a citation, the department said in a statement, noting “a garage sale/yard sale is not an essential business and should not be open for business.”

Violations of the governor’s order are misdemeanors punishable by a possible six-month jail sentence or a $1,000 fine. Christa Thompson is scheduled to appear in district court on May 8.

“I complied to everything they asked me to do,” she said Monday. “I never broke any laws.”

She called police before holding the sale, explaining that a relative had passed away and they could not afford payments on several storage units, Christa Thompson said, adding that she needed to sell the items to buy groceries and pay bills for her family.

Christa Thompson said she was told it would be OK but to keep people at a distance from each other. A few days later, she said, police showed up telling her to remove her signs, and that some of her items were spilling on the street and needed to be moved to the backyard.

Police returned a few days later and gave her a ticket.

“I’m not breaking any laws and I asked before I started. I’m just out here trying to get these storage units cleaned out,” Christa Thompson said, adding that she is not trying to undermine those directly affected by COVID-19.

“I’m not running a business here. All I’m doing is trying to get rid of some stuff,” Peter Thompson said. “I’m not making the people come out here (and) buy the stuff. It’s all their choice.”