A rape suspect from Oregon was shot with less-lethal ammunition and arrested early Saturday morning at a Vancouver residence in the Orchards area.
Sgt. Tim Bieber, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said a deputy had driven by the home at 7416 N.E. 147th Ave. earlier in the morning and noticed the suspect’s truck parked in the driveway.
Deputies had information about a month ago that the suspect, Daniel L. Fowler, 38, was in the Meadowglade area but had been unable to locate him, Bieber said. Fowler had an outstanding warrant in Columbia County in Oregon on a first-degree rape charge.
Bieber said deputies contacted the residents of the Orchards home and obtained permission to search the premises.
During the search, a homeowner started “acting a little odd” and did not appear to want deputies to search a gated and fenced, covered area by the garage, Bieber said. Deputies then heard what appeared to be two shots. The homeowner eventually complied and Fowler was spotted inside the area.
The shots turned out to be a bottle the suspect had broken on a fence, and there were some sharp tools, including garden clippers, lying on the ground near his feet as if he was looking for weapons, Bieber said.
Fowler started to approach the deputies and asked to be shot, Bieber said. The deputies shot him with a 40mm less-lethal round and he then surrendered and was taken into custody.
Bieber said Fowler was not seriously hurt and was booked into Clark County jail. No other injuries were reported.
A homeowner, Brett A. Clason, 54, was also arrested for rendering criminal assistance, Bieber said.
