Police: Man had loaded pistol at a traffic stop

A suspected gang member is accused of reaching for a loaded pistol when a Washington State Patrol trooper pulled him over because he was driving erratically.

Christopher D. Washington III, 35, of Portland appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault, driving under the influence and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Judge John Nichols held Washington in lieu of $100,000 bail and appointed Vancouver attorney Bob Vukanovich to defend him. Washington is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Sept. 5.

According to court records, Washington was driving westbound on state Highway 14 at the Vancouver City Center exit early Friday when he jerked into the northbound Interstate 5 exit lane without using his turn signal. He continued to drive erratically on the freeway, where he suddenly moved his vehicle into the Fourth Plain Boulevard exit lane. Trooper Ronald Smarr pulled Washington over on the Fourth Plain offramp.

Smarr wrote in a court affidavit that when he approached Washington’s vehicle, he smelled “intoxicants.”

“I asked (Washington) where he was coming from and if he had been drinking,” Smarr wrote.

Washington denied that he had been drinking.

“As I was asking these questions, Trooper (Jeff) Heath observed (Washington) reaching with his left hand under his seat where he observed the bottom of a pistol,” Smarr wrote.

No shots were fired, and Washington was immediately arrested.

Deputy Prosecutor Julie Carmena said Washington is associated with the West Coast Crips gang.

Washington denied the allegations.

“That’s not true,” he said.