The Columbian

Courts & Crime

Washougal man dies in motorcycle crash on U.S. Highway 12

August 11, 2021, 6:39pm Clark County News

A Washington State Patrol evidence custodian from Washougal died in a motorcycle crash Tuesday evening on U.S. Highway 12 in Eastern Washington, according to the state patrol. Read story

The house at 6114 N.E. 112th Ave., dubbed the "meth mansion," is seen Tuesday morning partly demolished. Code violations and nuisance complaints over the property have plagued the neighborhood for years. The owner's attorney said he abandoned the idea of remodeling in favor of tearing it all down and starting new.

Walls come down at infamous ‘meth mansion’ in Orchards

August 11, 2021, 6:05am Clark County News Subscriber Exclusive

the notorious Orchards nuisance house across the street from Covington Middle School — is being demolished this month. Read story

Judge James Smith is sworn into District Court at the Clark County Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon. Smith will have to run for election in 2022 to keep the seat.

Former prosecutor James Smith sworn in as Clark County District Court judge

August 10, 2021, 7:32pm Clark County News

Senior Deputy Prosecutor James Smith crossed over to the other side of the District Court bench Tuesday when he was sworn in as the newest Department 3 judge. Read story

2 shootings in Vancouver leave 1 dead, 1 injured

August 10, 2021, 9:32am Clark County News Free

Two drive-by shootings in Vancouver about 20 minutes apart Monday night left one man dead and another in critical condition at the hospital, according to the Vancouver Police Department. Read story

Vancouver Police Chief James McElvain speaks with an audience member during a forum on the department’s use-of-force policies in September 2019 evening at Clark College’s Foster Hall.

Vancouver police struggling to hire and retain enough officers, chief says

August 9, 2021, 9:56pm Clark County News

The Vancouver Police Department is struggling to hire and retain enough officers due in part to the current political climate, according to VPD Chief James McElvain. Read story

Three injured in crash on state Highway 14 east of Washougal

August 6, 2021, 1:34pm Clark County News

Three people were taken to the hospital Friday morning after a crash that closed state Highway 14 east of Washougal near the Skamania County line. Read story

AG office’s memo says reform law doesn’t prevent police response

August 6, 2021, 7:40am Courts & Crime

A legal memo from the Washington Attorney General’s office says that the state’s new police use-of-force law does not prevent officers from responding to non-criminal calls like mental health and other community welfare calls. Read story

Abigail Bartlett, center, is sworn in as a District Court judge at the Clark County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon. She previously served as a District Court commissioner and takes over the seat previously held by Judge John Hagensen.

Bartlett takes oath to become Clark County District Court judge

August 5, 2021, 6:30pm Clark County News

Abigail Bartlett was sworn in Thursday afternoon as Clark County District Court’s Department 6 judge. Read story

Vancouver man sentenced to 3 years in Thanksgiving stabbing

August 5, 2021, 4:46pm Clark County News

A Vancouver man was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday for stabbing a man, with whom he had been growing marijuana, following a dispute over the seeds. Read story

Second suspect facing murder charge in Clark County Det. Brown’s death

August 5, 2021, 12:53pm Clark County News Free

Abran Raya Leon, the alleged getaway driver in the fatal shooting of Clark County sheriff’s Detective Jeremy Brown, is now facing charges of second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to court records. Read story