The Vancouver Police Department Major Crime Team is seeking information related to a pursuit early Tuesday morning during which an officer exchanged gunfire with a motorist.
Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said Wednesday afternoon that the suspect has not yet been located. Police previously said they don’t believe there is any threat to the general public.
The officer who fired their weapon during the incident has not yet been identified. They are on critical incident leave, per standard department protocol.
The incident began about 1 a.m. near the intersection of East Fourth Plain and Grand boulevards when the officer saw two vehicles in the intersection possibly exchanging gunfire, according to the police department. One car was driven by a man, the other by a woman.
The man began driving west in the eastbound lanes of Fourth Plain Boulevard. He continued driving on the wrong side of the road after seeing the police officer following and reportedly fired at the officer, who returned fire, according to the department.
The suspect 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. The female driver stopped and explained she and the suspect are in a domestic relationship.
A while later, the suspect’s vehicle was spotted on I-5 northbound at the Fourth Plain Boulevard exit and was found unoccupied near the freeway and Vancouver VA campus, police said.
The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team responded and searched the area using a K-9 tracker, but the man wasn’t located.
Anyone who may have information related to the incident, and who hasn’t spoken with police, should contact Detective Jason Mills at 360-487-7425.
