The Vancouver Police Department identified the officer who fired his weapon while responding to a burglary early Sunday morning as Cpl. Roger Evans — a veteran of the department who was involved in a fatal shooting earlier this year.
Evans, 48, is on critical incident leave, which is standard procedure for an officer-involved shooting.
Officers were dispatched at 12:06 a.m. to a commercial alarm at 6714 N.E. 18th St. Responding officers found evidence of a burglary, and a male was seen inside the building, according to police.
The suspect exited the building in a vehicle while officers were setting up containment around the building. Evans fired his weapon. Police did not indicate whether the suspect was injured.
A pursuit ensued, and the suspect vehicle was found abandoned near East Fifth Street and South Blandford Drive, police said. The suspect was not located, however.
The police department is investigating the burglary. The Regional Major Crimes Team, led by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
In February, Evans fatally shot 16-year-old Clayton Joseph while investigating a disturbance outside a Southeast Ellsworth Road apartment complex. Joseph was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.
Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik determined that Evans acted lawfully when he fatally shot Joseph. Golik wrote in his use of deadly force report that Evans clearly stated in an interview with detectives that the moment he fired his gun, he believed Joseph was a man who’d just threatened people with a knife, and he was about to be stabbed himself.
Evans has worked for the police department for 21 years. His duties have included work in special operations, as a K-9 handler and as a patrol officer. He was promoted to corporal in December and is currently assigned to West Precinct patrol.
