Police officer exchanges fire with motorist in central Vancouver

A police officer exchanged gunfire with a motorist during an early morning pursuit and manhunt in central Vancouver, according to the Vancouver Police Department. The officer suffered minor injuries.

The incident began about 1 a.m. near the intersection of East Fourth Plain Boulevard and Grand Boulevard when an officer saw two vehicles in the intersection possibly exchanging gunfire, according to a statement from the police department. One of the cars was driven by a man, the other by a woman.

The cars passed through the intersection and the male driver began driving west in the eastbound lanes of Fourth Plain Boulevard, according to the department. He continued driving on the wrong side of the street after seeing the police officer following and reportedly fired a gun at the officer, who returned fire.

The male driver then took Interstate 5 south into Oregon, with the officer and the female driver following. The officer pulled over in the area of Jantzen Beach to be treated for minor injuries from flying glass, and the female driver stopped and told him she and the male driver are in a domestic relationship.

The man’s vehicle was spotted later on I-5 northbound at the Fourth Plain Boulevard exit and was found unoccupied near the freeway and the Vancouver VA campus, according to police.

The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team responded to the area near where the vehicle was located and searched the area using a K-9 tracker. As of 8:39 a.m., the man had not been located but has been identified.

Police said there is not believed to be any threat to the general public. No other injuries are known other than the minor injuries suffered by the officer.

The Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Team is investigating. The involved officer is currently on critical incident leave, per standard protocol, the police department said.