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UPDATE (11-21-24 2:30 pm)
Several photos from the search warrant service are attached to this update.
On November 20th, at around 9:30 a.m., the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team executed a search warrant at a home in Battle Ground, WA, in connection with a bank robbery investigation. Clark County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) investigators, along with assistance from the Vancouver Police Department and Portland Police Bureau, arrested two people believed to be involved in more than ten bank robberies in Washington and Oregon.
Detectives arrested Andrew Bekman (31) and Amira Askew (28) for First-Degree Robbery. Investigators believe Bekman and Askew robbed the Umpqua Bank in Salmon Creek on November 6th and suspect their involvement in other bank robberies in the Vancouver/Portland metro area dating back to June of 2024.
At the scene of the search warrant executed on November 20th, detectives seized clothing matching those worn during multiple robberies, as well as firearms, ballistic vests, and stolen vehicles. Detectives also recovered a note with the words, "This is a robbery. I have a gun. Empty your till."
Background on the Umpqua Bank robbery:
On November 6th, deputies responded to a robbery at the Umpqua Bank in Salmon Creek just before 5 p.m. A teller reported that a male and female wearing masks had just robbed them. The male implied he had a gun, and the suspects left the bank with an unknown amount of cash.
Patrol deputies, detectives, and CCSO's Tactical Detective Unit (TDU) worked together to collect video and other evidence from the scene. CCSO then asked for the community's assistance in identifying the suspects. A tip from a member of the public helped identify both suspects and led TDU to their house in Battle Ground. Following their arrests, Bekman and Askew confessed to the Umpqua Bank robbery, along with several others.
CCSO would like to thank the public for providing crucial information that led to the apprehension of these suspects. We would also like to thank the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team, the Vancouver Police Department, and the Portland Police Bureau for their partnership and assistance.
On November 6th, 2024, at 5:20 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputies were dispatched to a report of a robbery that occurred during the sale of a cell phone. The victim told deputies he had communicated with a buyer online and then arranged to meet in person for the transaction.
Three suspects arrived in a blue Dodge Durango and met the victim at an apartment complex in the Salmon Creek area. One of the suspects took a cell phone from the victim before pointing a gun at his head and pistol-whipping him. The suspect was armed with a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine.
Deputies later located and arrested two of the suspects, 18-year-old Howard Osawa and 19-year-old Va’Zjahn Willis, on robbery and trafficking stolen property charges. Investigators also recovered the vehicle and firearm used in the robbery.
A third suspect remains unidentified. He is described as a Hispanic or Pacific Islander male with long hair in a ponytail, approximately 5’10”-6’2” tall, with a large build. He was wearing a light-colored Champion hooded sweatshirt. Please see the attached pictures.
Detectives believe this group has committed several similar robberies and thefts in the past month, in which they communicated online with victims, met with them in person, and then robbed them. CCSO Detectives are working with other law enforcement agencies to bring charges in those cases.
If you have information about the identity of the unidentified suspect in this robbery, please contact CCSO Detective Elijah Page at Elijah.page@clark.wa.gov.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is excited to invite the public to a special open house event commemorating its 175th anniversary. Established in 1849, CCSO was the first law enforcement agency in Washington.
The open house will occur on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, at the Clark County Historical Museum in Vancouver.
This event will offer a unique opportunity to explore the history of the Sheriff’s Office through displays of old photographs, vintage uniforms, memorabilia, and artifacts that showcase our legacy of service. Current and retired members of CCSO, many of whom have devoted decades of service to the agency, will be on hand to share their experiences and reflect on the agency’s significant role in shaping law enforcement in Clark County.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024
- Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Location: Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660
“As we mark 175 years of service to our community, we are proud to reflect on the dedicated work of those who have served with us through the years,” said Sheriff John Horch. “We are proud to be the first law enforcement agency in Washington, and we remain committed to protecting and serving the people of Clark County. This event is a chance to honor our past, celebrate our present, and look ahead to the future,” Sheriff Horch added.
For more information about the history of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, please visit our website at https://clark.wa.gov/sheriff.
We thank the Clark County Historical Museum for partnering with us for this special event. To learn more about CCHM, please visit https://cchmuseum.org.
On 11/13/2024 at approximately 10:01 p.m., multiple area residents called 911 to report hearing gunshots in a residential area in the 2300 Block of NE Everett Street in the city limits of Camas, Washington. More calls continued to 911, reporting additional gunshots over the next approximately 30 minutes. Camas Police Department (CPD), along with assistance from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Vancouver Police Department (VPD), and Washougal Police Department (WPD), responded.
At around 10:37 p.m., an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was deployed and located a subject outside a residence. Law enforcement developed information that the subject was believed to be a person who was the respondent in a no-contact order that prohibited him from being at the residence or possessing firearms. Armor vehicles from VPD and CCSO responded to the scene.
The subject eventually entered a vehicle in the driveway of the residence. At approximately 11:03 p.m., using an armored vehicle, law enforcement moved up to contact the subject. As communication was being attempted with the subject, a deputy-involved shooting took place.
The subject was provided with first aid at the scene and transported to an area hospital. As of this media release, the subject remains in the hospital. No law enforcement or uninvolved parties were injured.
One Clark County Sheriff’s Office Deputy discharged their firearm during the incident. The involved deputy was placed on Critical Incident Leave, per agency protocol.
The information is preliminary, and this is an ongoing investigation. The SW Washington Independent Investigation Team (SWIIRT), led by the Washington State Patrol, will be investigating the shooting. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has also notified the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations.
As part of CCSO’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program, each of the involved deputies was wearing a BWC, and the incident was captured on camera. Video of the incident will be released at a later time.
In compliance with WAC 139-12, Clark County Sheriff’s Office personnel will not be involved in this investigation.
- All future communications will be sent via the Washington State Patrol.
- Washington State Patrol will release the names of the involved deputies.
- Once the SWIIRT investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
No further information is available at this time.
On 11/13/24 at approximately 1:08 PM, Deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident into a house at the 6300 block of NE 4th Ave in Vancouver, WA. Upon arrival, deputies found a full-size pickup that left NE 63rd St and struck the corner of a residence. An adult and an infant occupied the home at the time of the collision. Neither one had any injuries from the vehicle striking the residence. The driver, Luis Antonio Santiago Vasquez (age 32), was arrested for driving under the influence, reckless driving, and driving while suspended.
Update (11/12/24, 4:10 p.m.)
Detectives continue to investigate the October 8th homicide of Patricia Jimerfield. On Tuesday, Nov. 12th, Major Crimes detectives served two warrants.
Detectives have not made any arrests in the case. This is an active and ongoing investigation.
More information will be released when it's available.
Update (10/10/24, 9:26 a.m.)
The Clark County Sheriff's Office is tentatively identifying the victim in this case as Patricia Jimerfield, age 78. Investigators have been in contact with her family. Official identification will come from the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office.
We can confirm that on the morning of October 8th, Jimerfield was notified by her bank that there were pending fraudulent charges on her account. Jimerfield then checked her purse and discovered her wallet was missing, then filed a fraud report with CCSO. Investigators are looking into the fraudulent charges.
There were no signs of forced entry or a burglary at the residence.
Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no additional details will be released at this time.
On 10/8/24 at 9:41 p.m., the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Clark County Fire District 6 were dispatched to a medical call for an unresponsive person at a residence near NW 26th Avenue and NW 99th Street in the Lakeshore area of Vancouver, WA.
First responders located a deceased female inside the residence. The Clark County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU) responded to the scene. Detectives were at the residence overnight and into the morning. Investigators are investigating the death as a homicide.
This investigation is an active and ongoing investigation. When additional information can be shared, this release will be updated.
On November 8th, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) conducted a retail theft operation at the Hazel Dell Target in Vancouver. Detectives arrested nine people for retail theft-related crimes and outstanding warrants and booked them into the Clark County jail.
CCSO’s Tactical Detective Unit (TDU) ran the operation with the assistance of the Special Investigations Unit, Major Crimes Unit, Patrol Deputies, and Target loss prevention.
Detectives arrested people for various crimes, including organized retail theft, forgery, and other felonies. Many subjects also had multiple warrants for their arrest due to prior criminal activity. Detectives recovered more than one thousand dollars in stolen merchandise, multiple weapons, and drug paraphernalia.
This was CCSO’s fourth retail theft mission since June. Retail theft subjects are often part of organized theft rings and are associated with other criminal activities such as drug distribution, vehicle theft, and illegal firearm possession.
CCSO is committed to disrupting retail theft and associated crimes in Clark County and is planning additional missions in the future. Those engaging in retail theft will be arrested and jailed.
On 11/6/2024 at approximately 1640 hours, Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputies were dispatched to a robbery at the Umpqua Bank at 2515 NE 134th St, Vancouver, WA. The Bank called to report they were just robbed by a male and female wearing masks. The male implied he had a gun and the suspects left the bank with an unknown amount of cash.
A photo of the suspects is attached.
S1: White male, long brown hair, Carhartt style jacket with a black sweatshirt.
S2: Black female, brown hair, greyish headband, pink jacket and a cross bag.
If you have information about this incident or the identity of the suspects, contact Det. Johnson at tanya.johnson@clark.wa.gov
This is an active investigation