Vancouver, Wash. – A jury has reached a verdict of not guilty in the criminal trial against Vancouver Police Officer Andrea Mendoza arising from of a May 21, 2023, use of force incident. Following the incident, the Police Department opened an internal investigation, which was subsequently paused pending the outcome of the trial in the criminal case.  

With the conclusion of the trial, the Vancouver Police Department Professional Standards Unit will now resume the internal investigation. The City and Vancouver Police Department will not be commenting on the active internal investigation. Officer Mendoza remains on administrative leave.  

The City of Vancouver Police Department is committed to serving the public with professionalism, compassion, and respect.    

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Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is conducting the Independent Investigation of the officer-involved use of force incident involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, which occurred on April 13, 2024. 

Two involved deputies are:

• Deputy Jim Payne is assigned to Central Precinct Patrol. He has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2000 and has 23 years of law enforcement experience. 

• Deputy (K9 Handler) Michael Gonzalez is assigned to Swing Shift Patrol. He has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2021 and has seven years of law enforcement experience.

The two witness deputies are:

• Sergeant Fred Harrison is assigned as a Patrol Sergeant. He has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2006 and has 17 years of law enforcement experience.

• Deputy Enrique Cordero is assigned to West Precinct Patrol. He has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2021 and has two years of law enforcement experience.

All four remain on critical incident leave. 

The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is continuing the investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review. 

Additional information will be released as it is available and will be sent out in a media release.

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Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is continuing the investigation of the officer involved shooting that occurred on February 20, 2024, involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Results of DNA and firearms analysis are still pending from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. 

At the completion of the SWIIRT investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.
 

Additional information will be released as it becomes available. 

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Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is conducting the Independent Investigation of the officer-involved use of force incident involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, which occurred on April 13, 2024, at approximately 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion located at 14011 NE 20th Avenue in Clark County. 

As part of the investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to locate a possible second suspect related to the carjacking crimes, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office contacted and arrested Lyndsey D. Jones for Residential Burglary. The investigation of the underlying crimes that occurred prior to the use of force are being investigated by the SWIIRT. 

Nothing additional is releasable at this time.  Additional information will be released as it becomes available and will be sent out via media release.

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Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is conducting the Independent Investigation of the officer-involved use of force incident involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, which occurred on April 13, 2024, at approximately 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion located at 14011 NE 20th Avenue in Clark County. 

Clark County Sheriff’s deputies were attempting to locate two carjacking suspects, one reported to be armed with a firearm.  Deputies observed the male suspect enter the American Legion building, made contact with him inside, and the officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The investigation of the officer-involved shooting is being led by the Vancouver Police Department. Additional information will be released as it becomes available and will be sent out via media release.

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Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is continuing the investigation of the officer involved shooting that occurred on February 20, 2024, involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Results of DNA and firearms analysis are still pending from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. 

At the completion of the SWIIRT investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available. 

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*** Update***

As part of the ongoing investigation, this morning detectives from the Vancouver Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, with assistance from SWAT, served a search warrant at residence in the 10600 block of NE 44th Street. 

The suspect in this case, Georgio C. Stevens was located and taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Clark County Jail for felony Harassment. 

The investigation is continuing.  

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Vancouver, Wash. – On March 22 at approximately 8:00 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the Vancouver Mall (8700 NE Vancouver Mall Dr) for the report that several teens got into a physical fight in the food court and when one of the parents stepped in to stop the fight, the other parent pointed a firearm at victim parent threatening him. The suspect parent left the food court with his kids. There were no injuries. The suspect was believed to still be inside the mall, possibly in the bowling alley. Officers set up a perimeter and made contact with mall security who reported the suspect had left the mall prior to police arrival. 

The investigation is continuing and nothing further is releasable at this time.  

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Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is continuing the investigation of the officer involved shooting that occurred on February 20, 2024, involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators are in the process of finalizing their reports. Results of DNA and firearms analysis are still pending from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. 

At the completion of the SWIIRT investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.

 Additional information will be released as it becomes available. 

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Vancouver, Wash. –On March 31, at about 9:53 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the report of a physical disturbance at the Vine Turtle Place bus stop at 7^th/Washington Street. Upon police arrival, all involved had fled and no victims were located. Approximately 20 minutes later, a male called 9-1-1 requesting an ambulance at the intersection of Broadway/E 12^th Street for an unknown cause of bleeding. Upon police arrival, it appeared the male had stab wound in the abdomen. The male was not forthcoming with information on how he was injured. He was transported to an area hospital for serious but not life-threatening injuries. Upon arrival at the hospital, it was found that the wound was not a stab wound, but rather a close contact entry/exit gunshot wound. 

Due to the proximity to the previously reported physical disturbance to where the victim of the gunshot wound was located, surveillance video was obtained showing the assault of the victim by five males. All five boarded a C-Tran bus with the victim’s property. 

The bus was located with all five suspects onboard and officers conducted a high-risk stop. All five were taken into custody without incident. A handgun, suspected controlled substances, the victim’s stolen shoes and additional evidence items were in possession of the suspects. 

The investigation revealed that the during the assault, a handgun was produced resulting in the gunshot wound to the victim. 

Five individuals were arrested and booked into the Clark County Jail for Robbery I:

• Jowakim J. Fonuk 
• Arnod Mensior 
• Raminus Peter 
• Akino Sarapin 
• Dearson Suzuki 

The investigation by the Vancouver Police Department Crime Reduction Unit is continuing. 

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Vancouver, Wash. – On Saturday, March 30 at approximately 9:49 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the area of N Andresen Rd/NE 63^rd Street for the report of a single vehicle collision. The vehicle had been traveling northbound on Andresen Rd. just north of NE 63^rd Street At that section of Andresen, there is a slight left curve in the road. The vehicle did not take the curve and traveled straight into the curb, up an embankment on the east side of Andresen and into the trees. The evidence and the damage to the vehicle indicate the vehicle was rolling over as it struck the trees.  The single occupant, a 22-year-old male, was deceased at the scene. 

The Vancouver Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating. Speed appears to be a contributing factor in the crash. This is the fifth traffic fatality the Vancouver Police Department has investigated so far in 2024. 

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*** Update ***

Both Lauren and Elayna were located and are safe. 

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The Vancouver Police Department asking for help locating Lauren Morin and her 5-year-old daughter Elayna Morin. Lauren is thought to be suffering a medical emergency. They are associated with a red 2015 Mazda CX5, bearing the Washington plate AWV0260. They were last seen 03-31-24 in Vancouver.

Cristina Ase

*** Update ***

Vancouver Police Missing Persons detectives have been actively investigating the disappearance of Cristina Ase who was last seen on March 26. Cristina lives in Vancouver and works in West Linn. Police still believe her disappearance is suspicious and far outside of what her normal pattern consists of. A person of interest has not been identified. Cristina’s husband, family and friends have continued to cooperate with law enforcement. Coordinated efforts between Vancouver Police Department, Portland Police Bureau, and West Linn Police Department have been made to advance the investigation and locate Cristina.

Police and Cristina’s loved ones urge anyone who knows Cristina or has had contact with her within the weeks leading up to her disappearance, to contact Detective Nicholson at Jason.nicholson@cityofvancouver.us or Sergeant Ballou at Julie.ballou@cityofvancouver.us.

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On March 26, Cristina Ase, a 61-year-old woman, was reported missing to the Vancouver Police Department by her husband. Coworkers of Cristina also called police when she did not show up to work earlier that morning. Cristina was last heard from at about 530am on the morning of March 26.

Police believe Cristina may have gone into Oregon after her leaving her residence at 501 SE 123^rd Ave, Vancouver WA. It is believed she drove a 2013 dark grey Toyota Rav4 with a Washington plate of AQT1726. Her vehicle was located in Vancouver on March 27. Cristina is possibly carrying a black & white bag or purse. Her clothing is unknown. 

Police are considering Cristina’s disappearance suspicious in nature and highly unusual for her regular pattern of behavior. Her husband and coworkers are offering their full cooperation with law enforcement.

Police are asking Oregon and Washington residents for assistance in locating possible video footage of Cristina or her vehicle within a quarter mile radius of the following locations between March 25 at 4pm – March 27 at 5pm:

501 SE 123^rd Ave, Vancouver WA

Glenwood Park – 8800 block of SE Claybourne Street, Portland OR

Flavel Street & SE 92^nd Ave, Portland OR

If you have information regarding Cristina’s whereabouts or any information police helpful to this investigation, please contact Detective Nicholson at jason.nicholson@cityofvancouver.us or Sergeant Ballou at julie.ballou@cityofvancouver.us.

Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Vancouver Police Department, is continuing the investigation of the officer involved shooting that occurred on February 20, 2024, involving deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Results of DNA and firearms analysis are still pending from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. There is no new information to be released at this time.

At the completion of the SWIIRT investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available. 

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