Five are clear as fight’s investigated

Prosecutors have dropped all charges against five Vancouver teenagers related to an alcohol-fueled fight early Aug. 16 involving a knife, a pipe and a nail-studded 2-by-4 at Oak Grove Neighborhood Park.

Prosecutors said they will need further investigation before they could proceed with a case in Clark County Superior Court against Nathan H. Tomasini, 18, Ryan D. Thomas, 18, Demetri J. Chambers, 18, Steven M. Lindteigen, 18, or Christopher D. Hamilton, 19, on charges of rioting with a weapon.

Clark County sheriff’s deputies were called at 5:11 a.m. Aug. 16 to a report of several people fighting in the park on Northeast 159th Avenue at Northeast 70th Street.

Thomas and his roommates, Trevon Christensen and Isaiah Christensen, accused Tomasini of assaulting them with a knife while they were walking in the park, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in court.

Trevon Christensen had knife slashes on his right forearm and the right side of his body.

According to Tomasini and his brother, Anthony Finstad, one of the three roommates wielded a 2-by-4 studded with nails and struck the two brothers with it, the affidavit says.

Finstad said one of the three roommates also tried to strangle him, the affidavit says.

Chambers, Lindteigen and Hamilton also were accused of involvement, though the affidavit doesn’t specify what role they played.

Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://twitter.com/Col_Courts; paris.achen@columbian.com.