Police arrest 2 after beach argument turns physical

A dispute over loud music early Sunday morning along the Columbia River turned physical when the two men playing the music assaulted the people they were arguing with and threatened them with a gun, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

Police were called at about 12:45 a.m. to a waterfront beach area near Lower River Road. The victims told police that Andrew Mortensen, 30, and Michael Nottingham, 26, were camping along the river and playing music, police said.

After a disagreement between the two men and the alleged victims, the argument became physical, with one victim suffering injuries to the face, according to a Vancouver police news release.

The suspects also allegedly threatened a woman after she told them that she had called 911.

The injuries sustained during the incident did not appear to be life-threatening, police said.

Police said they arrested Mortensen on two counts of first-degree assault and one count of felony harassment. They arrested Nottingham on one count of fourth-degree assault, according to the news release.

More details about the alleged assault were unavailable Sunday. Vancouver police said the agency’s Major Crime Unit is still investigating the case and that they wouldn’t release any more information Sunday. Clark County Search & Rescue volunteers helped police track down evidence at the scene, according to the news release.