Law enforcement officers respond Nov. 14 to the scene of a shooting in Camas. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian files)
The Clark County sheriff’s deputy who shot a Camas man Nov. 13 has fired his weapon in two previous law enforcement shootings, Columbian archives show.
The Washington State Patrol on Thursday identified the deputy as Forrest Gonzalez. The State Patrol is leading the shooting investigation as part of the Southwest Washington Independent Investigation Team.
Gonzalez shot Patrick Wetzel, 41, in the driveway of Wetzel’s estranged wife’s Camas home. Wetzel was struck in the shoulder, court records state, and treated at a hospital.
Gonzalez, who has worked for the sheriff’s office since 2018, was involved in the Feb. 20 shooting of Jonathan “Scott” Gale, 53, in Brush Prairie. As Gonzalez and other deputies tried to detain Gale in connection with sexual assault allegations, the deputies said Gale pulled a gun from his waistband. Gale was fatally shot.
Gonzalez was also involved in the October 2021 shooting of Kfin Karuo, 28, of Vancouver. Gonzalez told investigators Karuo pointed a gun at him as Karuo fled from his crashed SUV following a chase. Karuo died at the scene.
The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to The Columbian’s questions about the status of its review of those earlier shootings as of Thursday’s press time.
Dashcam footage
Wetzel is facing charges of first-degree burglary, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, aiming/discharging a firearm and protection order violation. A charge of second-degree assault was added Tuesday, accusing Wetzel of pointing a gun at Gonzalez and two other deputies, court records show.
Wetzel’s family said he has schizophrenia, according to jail booking records.
Court records indicate Gonzalez, three deputies and a Vancouver police officer were in an armored SWAT vehicle approaching Wetzel, who was seated in his car in the driveway of a house in the 2300 block of Everett Street. Other officers were taking cover behind the armored vehicle.
Law enforcement from multiple agencies responded to the house for reports of shots heard, and they believed Wetzel was violating a domestic violence no-contact order by being at his estranged wife’s house, according to previous investigator statements.
Investigators said Wetzel can be seen on the armored vehicle’s dash camera footage getting into his Kia, which was facing the SWAT vehicle, and holding what appears to be a pistol. He can be seen using his other hand to pull back the slide of the suspected gun, likely racking it, court records state.
Wetzel then appears to yell at officers and lower the gun. He can be seen taking a drink out of a can, before putting that down. He’s then seen raising an object, pointing it in front of him. Investigators said a water droplet on the dash camera then obscured the view of Wetzel in the car, according to court records.
Gonzalez then fired three shots into the windshield of Wetzel’s car, according to investigators.
In audio from a deputy’s body camera, that deputy can be heard saying, “He’s got a gun in his hand, and he’s racked it.” Later, that deputy can be heard saying, “He’s pointing it,” court records state.
When investigators searched Wetzel’s car, they found a pistol. They said they determined the pistol was unloaded, did not have a magazine in its well and there was no ammunition in the car. But they said the safety was off on the gun and the slide was forward with the hammer cocked, according to court records.
Wetzel is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. Court records show he posted bond and was released from the Clark County Jail.
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