Vancouver Police Substitute PIO - 07/05/26

Vancouver, Wash. – Vancouver Police Department Public Affairs Manager/PIO Kim Kapp will be unavailable July 6-10.   Deputy Chief Erica Nilsen will be handling PIO duties on these dates. She can be reached at erica.nilsen@cityofvancouver.us during regular business hours.

For after-hour/weekend inquiries, please contact dispatch on the media line and request a return call from an on-duty Sergeant. Members of the media should not include any other email addresses in communication to the substitute PIO, other than the one listed above, and only for media inquiries during these dates listed above. PIO Kapp will be back in the office July 13.  

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Vancouver Police Arrest Male For Sex Crimes Against Teens - 07/01/26

Vancouver, Wash. – On June 24, 2026, Vancouver Police received information that multiple juveniles were staying at a hotel with an adult male, later identified as Andrew Guerrero – 20 years old, who was reported to be having sex with teen girls at the hotel. Vancouver Police officers responded to the hotel room and located three juvenile males and two juvenile females inside the room. The females were identified as being 13 and 16 years old. The room the girls were staying in was registered to Guerrero, who was identified as being an active-duty US Military member temporarily working in Portland, Oregon.

Through the course of the investigation, VPD Officers and VPD Children’s Justice Center (CJC) Detectives learned that Guerrero met the victim teenagers about a month prior via social media. After messaging back and forth via social media, Guerrero met with the victims and began spending time with them in person. This eventually led to Guerrero allowing the teenagers to live with him in his hotel room. Guerrero developed a relationship with the girls and began exploiting them sexually.  Through the investigation, VPD Detectives learned that Guerrero had been filming sexual acts with the girls through social media apps. They also learned that Guerrero had supplied the teenage victims with alcohol.    

Guerrero was arrested and has been charged with six counts of Rape of a Child in the second degree and two counts of Trafficking in the first degree.

Both teen girls were placed into protective custody.

This investigation highlights the dangers of teens communicating with strangers online. The Vancouver Police Department urges parents to monitor their children’s social media accounts and speak candidly with them about the dangers of online sexploitation and solicitation.

The investigation is continuing and nothing additional is being released at this time.

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Vancouver Police Investigate Shootings (Photo) - 06/22/26

Vancouver, Wash. – On June 18, 2026, at around 9:00 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the area of 2400 Rossiter Lane/Evergreen Park for the report that multiple gunshots were heard and witnesses reported seeing several people running away from the area.

When officers arrived, they located multiple shell casings near the playground area and several residents of a nearby apartment building reported damage to their apartments and vehicles which were struck by gunfire. No injuries related to this incident were reported.

On June 21, 2026, at around 1:00 a.m., Vancouver Police responded to the report of gunshots at 2900 General Anderson Avenue. Witnesses reported seeing approximately 20 people outside and a vehicle leaving the area. Police located a 14-year-old male with a non-life-threating gunshot wound to his leg who was transported to an area hospital. Multiple shell casings were located and there was damage to several buildings and nearby property. 

Police located a 17-year-old male with a firearm who was booked into the Robert L. Harris Juvenile Justice Center for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Minor in Possession. An 18-year-old male, PKSon Karuo, was booked into the Clark County Jail for Minor in Possession and Criminal Impersonation.

The Vancouver Police Department Crime Reduction Unit is investigating these incidents. Nothing additional is being released at this time.

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Vancouver Police Investigate Homicide (Update: Arrest) - 06/18/26

*** Update ***

On June 18, 2026, at approximately 4:00 p.m., detectives with the Vancouver Police Department, assisted by the Clark County Regional SWAT Team, arrested 19-year-old Isaiah Pontoja on a charge of Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the First Degree. 

The arrest stems from a homicide that occurred during the early morning hours of Monday, June 15, 2026. Investigators determined that Pontoja was responsible for the death of a 19-year-old male victim.

Following an extensive investigation, detectives developed probable cause and obtained an arrest warrant for Pontoja. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Clark County Jail.

The investigation remains ongoing. No additional information is being released at this time.

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Vancouver, Wash. – On June 15, 2026, at around 12:37 a.m., Vancouver Police responded to the 3500 block of Creston Avenue for the report of gunshots heard. Callers to 9-1-1 also reported that there was a group of 25-30 teens in the street and that someone was performing CPR on someone lying in the road. Officers located a 19-year-old male with life-threatening injuries. Officers performed lifesaving measures on him; however, he died at the scene. A female victim was located with non-life-threatening injuries who was transported to the hospital. A third injured person was located who had injuries that appeared to be from a physical fight.

The Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit is investigating.

Anyone with information on this incident, who has not spoken to police, or anyone who may have any video of the incident is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department Tip Line at (360) 487-7399.

This was the second shooting over the weekend. There is no indication the two shootings are connected.

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Vancouver Police Substitute PIO June 16 - 06/15/26

Vancouver, Wash. – Vancouver Police Department Public Affairs Manager/PIO Kim Kapp will be unavailable June 16, 2026.   Deputy Chief Erica Nilsen will be handling PIO duties on this date. She can be reached at erica.nilsen@cityofvancouver.us during regular business hours.

PIO Kapp will be back in the office on June 17^th.

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Vancouver Police Investigate Shooting - 06/15/26

Vancouver, Wash. – On June 13, 2026, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to 3500 E Fourth Plain Blvd/Evergreen Park. Callers to 9-1-1 reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing several subjects fleeing the park on foot. Officers located multiple shell casings in the area and a 16-year-old male with a non-life-threatening injury, who was transported to the hospital. A second person, a 17-year-old male, arrived at the hospital on his own, with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators determined this person was also associated with this incident.

The Major Crimes Unit and Crime Reduction Unit are investigating.

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