La Center Sheriff's Station

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is pleased to begin providing full-time law enforcement services to the City of La Center, thanks to a formal agreement between Clark County and La Center.  

On Tuesday, October 15^th, the Clark County Council voted to approve a five-year contract with La Center. A temporary agreement for services had been in place since March.  

The interagency agreement is a five-year contract in the amount of $5,332,507, with a renewal option at the end of 2029. The City of La Center will pay for all costs associated with the new contract, which includes: 

• Staffing, including one Commander (who will serve as the city’s full-time Chief of Police), four Deputies, and one Support Specialist.
• The initial and ongoing cost of vehicles.
• Gear such as body cameras, protective equipment, and weapons.
• Computers and other essential equipment for operations.

The agreement also covers the costs of resources beyond patrol, such as investigations and other specialty services.

“We are pleased to have an agreement finalized between Clark County and La Center. This was a collaborative effort between the City of La Center, the Clark County Council and the County Manager, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff John Horch. “The residents of La Center will see us protecting and serving their community, and our deputies are excited and ready to go.” 

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have the Sheriff's Office protecting the City of La Center,” said La Center Mayor Thomas Strobehn. “Returning police to the city has been my main focus since becoming Mayor. I know it took a little longer than anticipated, but I believe it gave us time to get the contract right. La Center residents love their police, and from my conversations with deputies, I think they got that feeling when patrolling or attending events in the city. This will be a great partnership, and I can’t wait to get started. I want to thank everyone who worked hard to make this happen, and I give special thanks to Sheriff Horch and Chief Mike McCabe for pushing it forward,” Strobehn said.  

Clark County Council Chair Gary Medvigy added, “This initiative has proven to be a more efficient way to spend limited, local tax dollars to strengthen public safety and be a positive for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and local community being served.” 

All Sheriff’s Office staff will be in place by February 2025. 

The agreement is available on the County's website here.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 16-year-old for posting a bomb threat to social media.

The juvenile posted on Snapchat on October 15th, claiming he was going to ‘blow up’ Heritage High School (7825 NE 130th Ave. Vancouver, WA). Another student reported the post shortly after it was made.

Deputies immediately responded to the school and took the student into custody.

Authorities searched the teen’s locker and backpack and found no evidence of a bomb or bomb-making materials. At this time, investigators do not believe the threat to be credible.

The juvenile was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Hall for Threats to bomb or injure property (RCW 9.61.160).

Update (10/10/24, 9:26 a.m.)

The Clark County Sheriff's Office is tentatively identifying the victim in this case as Patricia Jimerfield, age 78. Investigators have been in contact with her family. Official identification will come from the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office.

We can confirm that on the morning of October 8th, Jimerfield was notified by her bank that there were pending fraudulent charges on her account. Jimerfield then checked her purse and discovered her wallet was missing, then filed a fraud report with CCSO. Investigators are looking into the fraudulent charges.

There were no signs of forced entry or a burglary at the residence.

Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no additional details will be released at this time.

On 10/8/24 at 9:41 p.m., the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Clark County Fire District 6 were dispatched to a medical call for an unresponsive person at a residence near NW 26th Avenue and NW 99th Street in the Lakeshore area of Vancouver, WA.  

First responders located a deceased female inside the residence. The Clark County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU) responded to the scene. Detectives were at the residence overnight and into the morning. Investigators are investigating the death as a homicide. 

This investigation is an active and ongoing investigation. When additional information can be shared, this release will be updated.

On 10/8/24 at approximately 8:15 p.m., Clark County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a disturbance with a weapon in the area of NE Beaver Brook Road and NE Eagle View Road in Yacolt, WA. It was reported to 911 that a male had been shot in the head. A family member of the injured male reported to 911 that the male had been shot, unprovoked, by another resident of the house they all shared. The injured male was transported by car away from the residence by the family member to NE Fargher Lake Highway. Responding patrol units contacted them on NE Fargher Lake Highway and found a male with serious injuries. The male appeared to have been shot with a shotgun. The male was alert and able to communicate with deputies on the scene. The male was transported to a local trauma hospital by ambulance with life-threatening injuries. The victim remains in serious but stable condition at the hospital.

Deputies, using armored vehicles and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), made their way to the residence. Deputies called out the residents in the home and detained the suspected shooter, identified as Jeremie Singer, age 50, of Yacolt, WA, and several other residents. 

The Clark County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU) responded to the scene. Detectives learned that the victim and his family had been living at the residence and that they had a contentious relationship with their landlord and housemate, Jeremie Singer. 

Deputies had responded to the residence and authored an informational report about a landlord/tenant dispute involving the two families just a few days prior.

Detectives learned that both Jeremie and the victim had recently made claims of previous threats against one another. 

In this incident, it was determined that the victim had left the residence for the last several days. On 10/8, the victim returned to the residence to gather some belongings, where it is alleged that Jeremie shot him in the face and chest with a 12-gauge shotgun through the front window of the home. 

Jeremie Singer was arrested and booked into the Clark County Jail for Attempted Murder I- Domestic Violence (due to the household relationship as adult persons residing together) and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm II. 

This is an active and ongoing investigation. 

Town Hall Flyer

Clark County Sheriff John Horch will host a town hall on Wednesday, October 16th, starting at 6:00 pm. Sheriff Horch invites the community to discuss public safety topics and hear updates on the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). 

Sheriff Horch and members of his leadership team will be available to answer questions.

This will be the Sheriff's sixth town hall, following events this spring in Ridgefield and last year in Five Corners, Camas, Salmon Creek, and Battle Ground. 

The town hall will be held at CCSO's West Precinct, 505 NW 179th St., Ridgefield, WA, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Please take a look at the attached flyer for more information.

The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team (SWIIRT), led by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, has completed the investigation of the Vancouver Police Department’s (VPD) officer-involved shooting (OIS) that occurred on June 17th, 2024, on NE Andresen Rd. in Vancouver, WA.

The investigation has been forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney for review.  The investigation will also be shared with the community representatives assigned to this investigation as part of the Independent Investigation Team protocols.

No more weekly updates will be provided.

Photo from the Inside of Armored Vehicle

On 9/26/2024 at approximately 11:11 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a minor disturbance call involving several neighbors in the 5400 Block of NE 71^st Street in Vancouver, WA. A resident called 911 to report that a neighbor was threatening to harm another neighbor and that there was yelling between them. While this call was being taken, another area resident called to report the same subject was being aggressive and that they had possibly shot a gun into the air. 

The original caller then reported seeing the subject armed with a handgun. Prior to police arrival, the caller reported that the subject used a knife and punctured several tires on the neighbor’s vehicles.

Deputies responded to the area. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operator was able to get an overhead view of the subject. The subject appeared armed and was moving around his property. Since the subject was armed, Deputies used an armored vehicle to approach the subject’s residence. Deputies were able to contact him by phone, but he was uncooperative and made threats to shoot at deputies.

Based on the behavior of the subject, deputies initially decided to pull back and not provoke a further confrontation. Several minutes later, around 12:45 a.m., the subject was back out in the driveway and had fired off at least one round into the air with a gun. Phone contact was made with two females inside the subject’s residence. The females were able to leave the residence. Several more shots were then heard by deputies. 

UAS operators continued to observe the subject and saw him arm himself with a rifle from his garage. At least one round was reportedly fired with the rifle by the subject. 

Several more rounds are heard fired by a rifle as deputies re-approached the residence in an armored vehicle around 1:00 a.m. Deputies attempted to communicate with the subject from the armored vehicle. This continued for about 20 minutes before the subject fired several shots at the armored vehicle with a rifle. 

At around 1:24 a.m., the Southwest Washington Regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was activated and responded. Other armored vehicles were used to set a perimeter around the residence. The subject continued to yell at deputies from the residence and appeared to be setting up barricaded shooting positions inside his residence. The subject took several more shots at the other armored vehicles and possibly other houses in the area. At least one round from a large caliber rifle struck the windshield of the armored vehicle and caused significant damage. (Photo Attached)

Loudspeaker announcements were made to area residents to shelter in place. Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) Emergency Management sent out an emergency alert to area residents. 

At 2:29 a.m. SWAT had arrived on scene and began to deploy their resources. At 2:36 a.m., an officer-involved shooting occurred by a member of the SWAT team. The subject was struck and was later pronounced deceased.

The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team was activated to respond to investigate the officer-involved shooting. 

At 2:58 a.m., the shelter-in-place order was lifted. 

No law enforcement personnel or other neighbors were injured. 

The information is preliminary, and this is an ongoing investigation.

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

• All future communications will be sent via the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team.
• The SWIIRT will release the names of the involved deputies.
• The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office, upon request, will release the name of the deceased.
• Once the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team 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.

Subject With Bike

Update 9/26/2024 1:00pm

Several photos have been added from security cameras around the county campus. Due to the nature of the incident, we have blurred the subject's face in the photos.

On 9/25/2024 at about 8:00pm, a Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputy was completing pre-book paperwork outside the Clark County Jail with a person in custody in his vehicle. As the deputy was typing on the computer in his patrol car, an unrelated male walked up to the patrol vehicle and began yelling. The deputy moved his vehicle and went to enter the jail through the roll up security doors to enter the sally port of the jail. The sally port is a secure entryway to a jail that allows for the safe transfer of those in custody into the secure portion of the jail. After the patrol vehicle pulled in, the unknown male was able to enter the sally port before the roll-up door closed. The male then presented a firearm and placed it against his own head.

After a brief standoff where the deputy attempted to negotiate with the apparently suicidal subject, the subject then exited the sally port, and the doors were secured.

The male subject kept the firearm pointed at his head and began walking around the outside of the Jail and Clark County Courthouse. CCSO and Vancouver Police Department (VPD) patrol units responded to the area to contain the subject.

The subject, dressed in camo pants and a motorcycle jacket, remained on the county campus briefly before donning a motorcycle helmet, and mounting an electric bicycle with the gun against his head.

The patrol units attempted to keep containment while arrest teams with the use of armor vehicles prepared to make contact with the subject.

Due to the size and mobility of the electric bicycle, the subject broke containment multiple times throughout the downtown area, never removing the gun from his head. 

The arrest team in the armor vehicle attempted to stop the suspect with several attempts at using a 40mm less than lethal projectile.

The suspect was followed by the armor vehicles and other units to NE St Johns Rd and NE Arnold Rd, where he turned onto the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail system. Containment was setup and multiple Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) units were deployed for aerial search. A shelter in place notice was sent out to a 1/2 mile radius of the 4300 block of NE 26th Court.

The SW Washington Regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team responded to conduct a search for the subject. UAS units located the subject and SWAT moved down the trail to contact him.  SWAT, with the assistance of the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT), were able to get the subject to cooperate and into custody after extended negotiations. The firearm was recovered at the arrest location and determined to be a pellet gun.

Jaison Teragouchi was evaluated at a local hospital before being booked into the Clark County Jail for one count of Possession of Contraband Inside a Correctional Institution-Dangerous Weapon.

Safe with Money

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Tactical Detective Unit (TDU) recently completed a four-month investigation and arrested five people involved in a multi-state stolen muscle car ring, totaling 23 felony charges.  

Detectives recovered the following the case:  

• $700,000 in stolen cars (11 vehicles)
• $42,000 in cash
• Nine firearms

Detectives authored and secured 13 search warrants as part of their investigation, which began in June 2024. TDU worked alongside the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, conducting a similar investigation into high-end stolen cars (read more about MCSO’s investigation here: https://flashalert.net/id/MultCoDA/174440).  

CCSO Detectives learned that suspects in the theft ring had a sophisticated method of selecting their vehicles. They would surveil and then burglarize local car dealerships with a stock of high-end cars like Dodge Hellcats and Chevy Corvettes.

The suspects would also pay people to scout out privately owned muscle cars, and members of the organized theft ring would steal them and either sell them or part them out for profit.   

Though the ring affected communities in different states, detectives learned that suspects in Vancouver supported the theft ring in this manner: suspects would provide the operation’s ringleader with information on cars, purchase stolen cars he already had, part them out, or swap the vehicle’s VIN (vehicle identification number). Some would sell the stolen car parts to other theft ring members.  

Through a determined effort, law enforcement recovered multiple high-end cars in Vancouver that were stolen as far south as San Francisco and north as Bellingham, Washington. Detectives believe this particular theft ring started as early as July of 2023.   

Detectives recovered a safe holding $36,000 in cash along with the stolen vehicles. The money was concealed in ammunition boxes and is believed to be connected to the theft ring. The safe's owner is one of the five people charged in the case.  

Among the vehicles recovered:  

• 2021 purple Dodge Charger Hellcat
• 2019 black Chevrolet Corvette Z06
• 2018 silver Hennessey Corvette
• 2017 white C7 Corvette (disassembled)
• 2016 red Stingray Corvette
• 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Duramax
• 2019 Chevrolet Camaro SS (disassembled)
• 2021 black Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye
• 2016 black Dodge Challenger Hellcat
• 2016 black Dodge Charger Hellcat
• 2016 white Dodge Charger Hellcat (disassembled)

The following includes the names and charges of the arrested: 

• Christopher Bensch (25): Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (x4), Trafficking Stolen Property in the First Degree (x4), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree, Taking a Vehicle Without Permission in the First Degree (x2) and Burglary in the Second Degree.
• Tyler Lautenschlager (42): Taking a Vehicle Without Permission in the First Degree (x2), Trafficking Stolen Property in the First Degree (x3), Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (x2), Forgery (x2)
• Luke Tangocci (34): Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle x2, Trafficking Stolen Property in the First Degree, Taking a Vehicle without Permission in the First Degree and Providing a Firearm to an Ineligible Person
• Miguel E. Gonzalez (26): Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle
• Juvenile Male: Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office appreciates our partnership with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Auto Theft Task Force, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.