CCSO Deputy Involved In Deadly Force Incident -05/08/25

On May 7^th, 2025, at approximately 10:58 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a traffic collision involving a vehicle that crashed into two parked cars near NE 14^th Court and NE Minnehaha Street in Vancouver.

Deputies arrived at the scene and began an investigation. Deputies believed that the driver was possibly impaired and conducted a DUI investigation. 

As part of the investigation, the subject was arrested and transported to the Washington State Patrol Scale House at 29317 Interstate-5 in Ridgefield, WA. The facility has a room equipped with a breath alcohol analyzer used for evidential breath alcohol measurements in DUI investigations.

They arrived at the Scale House at approximately 11:33 p.m. While in the breath test room at the Scale House facility, at around 11:58 p.m., a CCSO deputy reported over the radio that he was actively in a physical altercation with the subject. The deputy reported that the subject had attempted to take his firearm during the altercation, and the deputy stabbed the suspect several times.

CCSO deputies, with the assistance of other agencies, attempted to provide first aid to the subject. A Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue ambulance arrived at the location. 

The subject was pronounced deceased at the scene at 12:39 a.m. on May 8th, 2025.

The CCSO deputy was not physically injured. The deputy is now on Critical Incident Leave, per standard protocol.  

The information is preliminary, and this is an ongoing investigation. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office notified the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII), which will investigate the incident.  

As part of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Program, video captured by body-worn cameras and in-car cameras will be reviewed and released at a later time. 

In compliance with WAC 139-12, Clark County Sheriff’s Office personnel will not be involved in the independent investigation. 

• All future communications will be sent via the OII. 

• The OII will release the name of the involved deputy. 

• The identity of the deceased and cause and manner of death can be requested through the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

• Once the OII 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. 

Update- Clark County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Suspect In Attempted Kidnapping (Photo) -05/07/25

Update 5/7/2025 11:00am

Around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies arrested a 31-year-old Vancouver man in connection with an attempted kidnapping that occurred earlier that day.

Cameron Parrish was booked into the Clark County Jail on charges of Attempted Kidnapping in the First Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and a Firearms/Dangerous Weapons Violation.

Earlier in the day, CCSO’s Tactical Detective Unit (TDU) identified a potential suspect while investigating the attempted abduction of a juvenile. As detectives canvassed the neighborhood for surveillance footage, a resident shared video of a vehicle that matched the description provided by the victim. The footage helped detectives determine the make and model of the suspect vehicle.

TDU detectives later located the suspected vehicle, identified the suspect as Parrish, and obtained a search warrant. With the assistance of additional CCSO units, deputies surrounded his residence and safely detained Parrish without incident. Investigators recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the attempted kidnapping.

Parrish and the victim did not know each other. Detectives believe Parrish saw the juvenile walking and approached her. The investigation revealed that the attempted kidnapping appears to have been sexually motivated. This is believed to be an isolated incident.

This remains an active investigation.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded to reports of an attempted kidnapping near the 500 block of NE 149th Street in Vancouver, WA.

A teenage victim reported that a man armed with a handgun approached her and told her to get in his vehicle. The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s or 30s with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing blue pants and an orange hooded sweatshirt. He was seen driving a newer four-door metallic blue sedan.

CCSO detectives are actively investigating and are seeking any surveillance, dashcam, or doorbell video from the area between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on May 6, 2025. Anyone with relevant footage is asked to upload it using the QR code link provided with this release or upload here: Evidence Request from Clark County Sheriffs Office

This is an ongoing investigation. No additional details are available at this time.

Update-Clark County Sheriff's Office Investigating A Reported Burglary That Led To Apparent Suicide -05/01/25

Update 5/1/2025 2:00pm

The Clark County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the death and the circumstances regarding this incident. In the initial release, it was believed that deputies responded to a residential burglary. The caller had discovered Gardiner in the residence and got into a physical altercation with him before he fled. There is no indication that there was a residential burglary. The Sheriff's Office has split the incident into two investigations, the death investigation and a criminal investigation.

Evidence from the death investigation involving Gardiner is consistent with a suicide. 

The Sheriff's Office has opened a criminal investigation into several sex offenses believed to have been committed by Gardiner against a juvenile victim. 

Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation, additional details cannot be released at this time.

Update 4/25/2025 9:15am

The Clark County Sheriff's Office can confirm that the deceased person in this incident is Charles Gardiner, the Interim Chief of the Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Department.

The Clark County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit is actively investigating this case, including the circumstances of why Gardiner was in the residence.

Due to the nature of this investigation, additional details cannot be released at this time. 

Additional updates will be released when more information is available.

On April 23^rd, at around 9:43 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a report of an occupied residential burglary in the 9000 block of NE 79^th Street in Northeast Vancouver. The caller reported a male subject inside the residence. The male subject fled the residence on foot.

As deputies and other law enforcement officers searched the area, they located a vehicle with a deceased person inside matching the subject’s description. Evidence suggests the individual died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The CCSO Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.

Two People Uninjured In Helicopter Crash In Amboy -04/14/25

Clark County, WA – At approximately 6:09 p.m. this evening, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) was notified of a helicopter crash in the area of 449th Street and NE Yale Bridge Road in Amboy.

Emergency crews from Fire District 10 responded promptly and confirmed that both occupants of the helicopter had safely exited the wreckage and were not injured.

While no injuries were reported, fire personnel identified a significant fuel leak at the scene.

The Washington State Department of Ecology has been contacted to address the environmental hazard.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been notified and will investigate the incident.

CCSO deputies are currently securing the crash site and will maintain control of the area until it is officially turned over to NTSB investigators.

No further details are available at this time.