Washougal mayor candidate Ford suspends campaign after arrest

Derik Ford, the Washougal mayoral candidate who was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of domestic violence, has dropped out of the race for Washougal mayor, according to KATU.

According to a Saturday article from KATU, Ford sent an email on Friday night stating he was suspending his campaign. A member of the campaign staff who answered The Columbian’s phone call said “no comment” when asked if the campaign was suspended on Saturday. The Derik Ford for Mayor Facebook page was also deleted as of Saturday afternoon.

On Wednesday, Washougal police responded to Ford’s house after a report of an assault during an argument with a family member. When Washougal police recognized Ford as a mayoral candidate, officers requested that Camas police take over the investigation to avoid any conflict of interest.

Police arrested Ford, 45, Wednesday based on the victim’s statements and injuries as well as inconsistencies in Ford’s account of what happened. Ford pleaded not guilty Friday in Clark County District Court.

Ford was previously accused of domestic violence in a 2015 restraining order filed by a family member. He was later sentenced to two years of formal probation and to attend a domestic violence intervention program after violating a restraining order, The Camas-Washougal Post Record reported.

Ford’s opponent in the November general election is Rochelle Ramos. Ford is a restaurateur and Massage Envy franchisee.