Vancouver Police Officers Assaulted During Response To Disturbance - 04/23/26

Vancouver, Wash. – On April 4, 2026, at around 8:30 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the 1400 block of Washington Street after a 911 caller reported that a male was in the parking lot kicking and punching a car, causing damage.  The caller also advised they were fearful that the male was going to assault a female who was standing nearby. When the first Vancouver Police Officer arrived, he located the suspect who was screaming and acting aggressively toward a male and a female, who were later discovered to be his mother and stepfather. As the officer approached the three individuals, the suspect chest bumped his stepfather in an aggressive manner.

The officer attempted to grab the suspect in order to get him under control and into custody. The suspect immediately and aggressively moved toward the officer, grabbed his upper body, got him into a headlock, and attempted to grab the officer’s gun. The suspect was later determined to be 15 years old, and estimated to be around 6’2” tall and weighed over 200 lbs. During the ongoing struggle, the suspect tore multiple items off the officer’s ballistic vest, including a gun magazine and the officer’s car keys, which he threw across the parking lot.

In an attempt to control the suspect during the violent struggle, an officer used what appears to be a form of a neck restraint. Under RCW 10.120.020 , a peace officer may use deadly force against another person only when necessary to protect against an immediate threat of serious physical injury or death to the officer or another person. A peace officer may not use any force tactics prohibited by applicable departmental policy, this chapter, or otherwise by law, except to protect his or her life or the life of another person from an imminent threat. 

After being handcuffed, the suspect continued to struggle, kick, and grab at officers. As he was being walked to a patrol vehicle, he continued to make verbal threats and spit in an officer’s face.

The suspect was booked into the Robert L. Harris Juvenile Justice Center and has been charged with Attempted Robbery II, Assault III-law enforcement officer (X2), Attempt to Disarm a Law Enforcement Officer, Malicious Mischief II, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer, Harassment, and Resisting Arrest. 

One of the officers who was assaulted was transported to an area hospital for evaluation of injuries and was later released.

The Vancouver Police Department contacted the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations. They declined to investigate. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded and is conducting an independent investigation of the incident. At the conclusion of that investigation, the Vancouver Police Department will complete an internal administrative review for policy compliance.

The involved officer is on critical incident leave, per standard protocol

After reviewing videos and reports from this incident, the Vancouver Police Department is releasing portions of video captured by the officers in-car cameras and body worn cameras of the two primary responding officers. Release of the video is to provide some visual context of the incident as the Vancouver Police Department understands the events to have occurred, according to the video and incident information.  The release of these videos is at the discretion of the Chief of Police and is separate from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office investigation.

Vancouver Police Officers Assaulted During Response to Disturbance | April 4

The Vancouver Police Department will not be commenting on the investigation or the content of the video.

###