PRESS RELEASE
A24-3542 / A24-3547
BURGLARY SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
At 0017 hours of February 26, 2024, Cowlitz 911 received a report of a prowler near Reed’s Automotive, 1944 Belmont Loop, Woodland. Woodland Police were unable to locate the suspect. Surveillance video showed the suspect was driving a Suzuki Sidekick, similar in appearance to a vehicle associated with a wanted subject named Jacob Dean Smart of Astoria, Oregon. Smart has been identified as a suspect in multiple crimes in Oregon, Washington and Idaho and had active warrants for his arrest. Smart was also identified as a person of interest in a recent home invasion burglary investigated by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.
A Kalama Police officer located the vehicle parked behind the Rebel Truck Stop in Kalama at about 0041 hours. A male suspect fled on foot from the vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office set containment in the area with assistance from other local agencies. During the search, Cowlitz 911 received what appeared to be an accidental call from a phone number associated with Jacob Smart. GPS data from that call placed the phone in the area of River Ridge Rd, near the Rebel Truck Stop. A reverse-911 call was placed to homes in the area notifying residents about the search for the suspect.
Lower Columbia SWAT responded to assist in the search. K-9 units attempted to track the suspect with assistance from Unmanned Arial Systems (UAS) but were unable to locate the suspect. The Sheriff’s Office posted information to its Facebook account, with information about Smart, including his picture and a picture of what is believed to be Smart wearing a mask with a bald head and long beard, which was observed in multiple incidents.
At 0631 hours, a citizen reported seeing a subject matching Smart’s description – with the mask - running across I-5 from the area of Todd Rd, running toward the train tracks. Deputies and officers from local police departments responded to the area. A Longview Police UAS operator observed the suspect going through the Temco property off Hendrickson Rd in the Port of Kalama.
As law enforcement worked to contain the area, a black Mitsubishi sedan was observed fleeing Temco at a high rate of speed. Deputies were able to block the vehicle’s exit, before the suspect fled on foot, climbing a fence as he escaped. The suspect was then seen entering the Arxada Kalama Plant through an open bay door. Law enforcement officers evacuated the employees from inside the building and set containment on the plant.
Lower Columbia SWAT responded to the scene, assisted by the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT). Officers gave commands to Smart that he was under arrest and ordered him to exit the building. Smart did not comply with commands. At 0808 hours, dispatch received a 911 call from a male subject, reporting that Jacob Smart was at a gas station, armed with a gun and was going to kill officers. Investigators were able to identify the voice of the caller as Jacob Smart.
CNT negotiators were able to reach Smart on his phone and attempted to convince him to surrender. During calls with negotiators, Smart threatened to shoot officers and also threatened to shoot vehicles driving through the area. Smart made numerous threats and told negotiators he would not be taken alive.
Lower Columbia SWAT utilized UAS drones and a remote controlled robot to assist in clearing large portions of the Arxada building and were able to contain Smart to the office portion of the building. SWAT utilized a K-9 team and deployed chemical agents to take Smart into custody. Smart was treated for minor injuries and booked into Cowlitz County Jail on outstanding warrants. Detectives with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office are investigating Smart for multiple other crimes and anticipate filing additional charges against Smart for crimes committed in Cowlitz County.
The Sheriff’s Office requests that anyone with information about these incidents contact Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office detectives at 360-577-3092.
Troy Brightbill
Chief Criminal Deputy
Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office