Stolen boat from Washougal run aground near Ridgefield

Law enforcement officials tracked a stolen boat in the Columbia River and were preparing to converge on the craft Tuesday afternoon when its pilot apparently ran it aground near Ridgefield and fled on foot but was arrested by Clark County Sheriff’s deputies after hiding.

The craft, a 36-foot Carver cabin cruiser, was reported stolen Tuesday morning from the Port of Camas-Washougal marina at 24 S. A St. in Washougal, according to Washougal police Sgt. Zane Freschette.

Freschette said the vessel was spotted downriver in the Vancouver area and was being tracked as authorities gathered assets to intervene when it ran aground near the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and the pilot fled.

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife had three officers looking for the suspect, said Becky Bennett, Police Community Outreach Liaison.

David Ripp, CEO of the Port of Camas-Washougal, said that the suspect climbed over a fence to get into the marina, according to surveillance footage.

The identity of the suspect was not available, according to the Washougal Police Department.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office’s public information officer nor Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins returned The Columbian’s request for more information on Tuesday.

Staff writer Will Campbell contributed to the reporting of this article.