Clark County deputies arrest two people, look for third man in string of robberies

Clark County sheriff’s deputies arrested two men believed to be involved in a string of robberies and thefts targeting people selling things online. The sheriff’s office is looking for a third person involved in the robberies.

Howard Osawa, 18, and Va’Zjahn Willis, 19, face allegations of robbery and trafficking stolen property, the sheriff’s office said in a news release Wednesday.

Deputies responded at 5:20 p.m. Nov. 6 to a report of a robbery at an apartment complex in the Salmon Creek area. The victim told deputies he communicated online with a buyer looking to buy a cellphone and arranged to meet in person for the transaction, the sheriff’s office said.

Three people arrived in a blue Dodge Durango. One of them took the cellphone from the victim before pointing a gun at his head and then hitting him with it, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office described the weapon as a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine.

Investigators recovered the vehicle and firearm used in the robbery, the news release states.

The third person in the Dodge Durango has not been identified, according to the news release.

The sheriff’s office describes him as a Hispanic or Pacific Islander man with long hair in a ponytail, about 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches tall, with a large build. The sheriff’s office said he was wearing a light-colored Champion hooded sweatshirt.

Detectives believe the group has committed several similar robberies and thefts in the past month, communicating online with victims, meeting them in person and then robbing them, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives are working with other law enforcement agencies to bring charges in those cases, the sheriff’s office stated.

Anyone with information about the identity of the unidentified man in this robbery, should contact sheriff’s Detective Elijah Page at Elijah.page@clark.wa.gov.