Clark County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 23-year-old Felida man early today on suspicion of drive-by shootings that damaged two churches and two cars.
Aleksey Suturin was booked into the Clark County Jail on two counts of drive-by shooting, two counts of first-degree malicious mischief, one count of second-degree malicious mischief, one count of attempt to elude and two counts of reckless driving, according to a news release from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
At 1:41 a.m. today, deputies responded to a report of shots near Northeast Saint Johns Road and Northeast LaLonde Drive. Deputies found bullet damage to the front of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 9711 N.E. Saint Johns Road, as well as several 9 mm casings in the parking lot, according to the sheriff’s office.
At 1:57 a.m., several 911 callers reported hearing shots near Northwest 99th Street and Northwest Ninth Avenue. Deputies found 17 bullet casings on the ground at the Kessid Columbia Church, 907 N.W. 99th St. The church’s windows appeared to have been damaged by gunfire. Officers also found three bullet casings near an unoccupied Kia SUV, which had been struck at least three times, according to the sheriff’s office.
At 2:03 a.m., deputies heard multiple gunshots and saw a blue SUV driving with its lights “blacked out,” heading west on Northeast 99th Street. A deputy followed the vehicle, which was speeding recklessly north into oncoming traffic on Northeast Highway 99, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies did not attempt to stop the vehicle, a blue Toyota Highlander, but got license plate information. The vehicle was registered to an address in Felida.
At 3:29 a.m., deputies at Kessid Columbia Church heard a gunshot from the area of Columbia River High School and located a vehicle in the school’s parking lot with a bullet hole in the windshield.
At 3:36 a.m., deputies near Suturin’s residence saw the Toyota Highlander driving slowly with its lights off. When the driver saw the deputies, he sped to Northwest 199th Street and Northwest 41st Avenue. Officers pursued the Highlander to Northwest 139th Street and Northwest Second Avenue. The Highlander accelerated onto southbound Interstate 5. Deputies laid tire spikes in the vehicle’s path, puncturing the Highlander’s tires near Northeast 99th Street. Suturin ran south on foot on I-5 but was taken into custody.
Suturin was wearing body armor under a jacket with several 9 mm pistol magazines attached ot the body armor. Deputies also saw a handgun on the driver’s seat floorboard of the Highlander, as well as loose rounds on the front seats.
The sheriff’s office seized the vehicle pending a search warrant.
Detectives from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit are continuing to investigate.
