2021: A year in review

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The year of 2021 faced similar challenges as the previous year as Clark County continued to navigate its way through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout it all, The Reflector covered noteworthy events that took place, which ranged from fatal police shootings to close election races.

January: Herrera Beutler votes to impeach Trump

After the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. was stormed on Jan. 6, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach then-president Donald Trump.

“The president of the United States incited a riot aiming to halt the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next,” Herrera Beutler wrote in a social media post explaining her decision as she noted five died during the Capitol unrest. “People everywhere watched in disbelief as the center of American democracy was assaulted.”

The day the Capitol was stormed, Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, wrote that “(t)he reports you are hearing about the chaos, panic and dangerous actions by protestors are not exaggerations. I witnessed them.”

“Is this the America we want to give to our children? A country of lawlessness and mob rule?” Herrera Beutler asked in the Jan. 6 post. “Previous generations of Americans have laid down their lives to answer ‘no’ to that question.”

In her explanation of the decision to vote for Trump’s impeachment, Herrera Beutler called the president’s response to the unrest at the Capitol a “pathetic denouncement” which “also served as a wink and a nod to those who perpetrated it.” She recounted Trump’s remarks to participants when he said, “I love you” and “you are special.”

“The president’s offenses, in my reading of the Constitution, were impeachable based on the indisputable evidence we already have,” Herrera Beutler wrote.

Following the impeachment vote, the Republican representation in Clark County came out against Herrera Beutler for her decision.

The Clark County Republican Party voted on Jan. 14 to approve an official declaration that congratulated Trump on accomplishments made during his presidential term and denounced the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6. The declaration condemned “all political violence, in all situations, no matter party affiliation or political identity,” and stated the local party’s belief in peaceable assembly was “evidenced by the thousands and thousands of peaceful protestors who did not riot in D.C.”

The declaration also denounced the “frivolous impeachment of President Trump based on false pretenses and without due process, solely to further political agendas.” It stated that Herrera Beutler’s vote “directly violates our values of standing for truth and justice,” adding her actions pushed “fear-based narratives” that were not representative of the Clark County Republican Party.

“This shameful behavior will only further divide our country,” the declaration read. “President Trump’s actual words clearly did not incite violence.”

Herrera Beutler’s vote drew out multiple challengers from her own party who seek to take her seat in Congress. Following her vote, Joe Kent and Heidi St. John declared their candidacy. More recently, current Washington State Rep. Vicki Kraft also announced her decision to run for Herrera Beutler’s seat.

In February, Herrera Beutler received a censure by the Clark County Republican Party.

During a meeting of Republican precinct committee officers on Feb. 23, the party voted close to unanimously to censure Herrera Beutler and withdrew financial support for the congresswoman. The resolution censuring Herrera Beutler took issue with the process of impeachment, stating there were “no formal hearings held, no quantifiable evidence presented, no witnesses sworn to give testimony, and no right to cross-examine the accusers.”

February: Sheriff’s deputy fatally shoots Black man

A 30-year-old Black Vancouver man died after a week in the hospital following a police shooting in February.

On Feb. 12, investigators received word from the Clark County medical examiner that Jenoah Donald had died. Donald was shot by a Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy, who was later identified as 21-year sheriff’s office veteran Sean Boyle. The shooting took place during a traffic stop on Feb. 4 in the area of Northeast 68th Street and Northeast Second Avenue.

According to a report from the investigation, Boyle, along with two other sheriff’s deputies, identified as six-year sheriff’s deputy Greg Agar and one-year deputy Holly Troupe, responded to the area at roughly 7:40 p.m. on Feb. 4 for a report of suspicious activity involving two vehicles circling the area. The caller reporting the activity expressed frustration over a “drug house” in the area. The investigation noted there had been more than 40 calls for service or responses to the area since June 2020.

While Boyle identified the driver, deputy Troupe arrived at the scene and walked up to the passenger side to provide cover as Boyle returned to his vehicle, the report stated. Troupe noticed several items in the vehicle that caused concern, including a “ball-handled” object with a three to four-inch sharpened “stake” near the center console.

Donald did not comply with instructions from Troupe to keep his hands visible, instead producing a cellphone and a pair of pliers, the report stated. Noticing the escalation, Boyle returned to Donald’s vehicle and instructed Donald to exit his vehicle, though he did not comply.

By this time, Agar had arrived at the scene, the report stated. Boyle and Troupe attempted to get Donald out of the vehicle, but he resisted and a struggle ensued.

Troupe made an attempt to gain “pain compliance” from Donald, and Boyle hit Donald with a closed fist to Donald’s nose, but neither tactic was effective, the report stated. Boyle felt Donald pull on his ballistic vest to pull him inside the vehicle, and Troupe noticed Donald’s right arm was free, potentially able to use the ball-handled object to assault Boyle.

Though it was turned off during the initial stop, Donald’s vehicle was restarted, the report stated, as deputies noticed the engine was revving and the vehicle’s “wheels spinning.” Boyle, who was still in Donald’s grip, felt the vehicle moving forward, and “fearing he was going to be killed, he drew his firearm ... and gave Mr. Donald a verbal warning to stop or he would be shot.”

Both Donald’s shooting and the killing of another Black man last year, Kevin Peterson Jr., have led to civil rights groups to focus on what they say are injustices against people of color.

A number of organizations including the local NAACP and American Civil Liberties chapters asked for a federal investigation as a response to a disproportionate number of fatal police shootings in recent years.

In a virtual announcement on Nov. 10, the NAACP of Vancouver, the American Civil Liberties Unions of Washington and Oregon, and other groups announced a formal request for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Vancouver Police Department, and the departments’ joint drug task force to be investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“This disparate policing causes lasting harm for residents and undermines public safety for the community at large,” NAACP of Vancouver President Jasmine Tolbert said. “All residents of Vancouver and Clark County deserve equal and professional treatment by police officers.”

June: Heat wave breaks records

The National Weather Service reported a temperature of 112 degrees on Sunday in Vancouver, breaking the previous all-time high record of 108 from July 29, 2009.

The weather was attributed to a “heat dome” effect. A large and high-pressure system situated itself over the Pacific Northwest for several days, said Tyler Kranz, a meteorologist from the NWS in Portland.

Portland also broke all-time records. At the Portland International Airport the temperature was reported at 112 degrees, which beat the Aug. 8, 1981 record of 107.

“It definitely feels strange forecasting temperatures that are so far beyond what’s ever been observed here before,” Kranz said.

The NWS said a dangerous impact of triple-digit weather includes heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

July: Sheriff’s detective Jeremy Brown fatally shot

Multiple people faced charges in the July 23 slaying of Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Brown, who was described as having “walked life with a quiet, humble strength.”

Following the shooting at an East Vancouver apartment complex, Guillermo Raya Leon, Abran Raya Leon and Misty May Raya were all charged in Clark County Superior Court.

Of those implicated, Guillermo Raya Leon faced the heaviest charges, with one count of aggravated first-degree murder and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. Abran Raya Leon faced a charge of rendering criminal assistance, and Misty May Raya faced charges of burglary, theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and more than two dozen charges of theft of a firearm.

According to a probable cause affidavit for Misty May Raya’s arrest, she is alleged to have stolen about 30 firearms and between 20,000 to 30,000 rounds of ammunition, identification documents, credit cards and other belongings totaling more than $5,000 from a storage unit in the 7600 block of Northeast Fifth Street in Vancouver in June.

Misty May Raya’s alleged crimes were in part why she and the two others were under investigation. Both Misty May Raya and Abran Raya Leon acknowledged they were being investigated for criminal activity during interviews, according to Guillermo Raya Leon’s probable cause affidavit for his arrest.

Brown and other investigators were conducting surveillance at The Pointe Apartments in the 3500 block of Northeast 109th Avenue in Vancouver on July 23. Guillermo Raya Leon, Abran Raya Leon and Misty May Raya were seen arriving at the complex in a silver Toyota SUV.

According to the affidavit, Misty May Raya and Abran Raya Leon said they were picked up by Lani Kraabell at a location in Portland. Both said Guillermo Raya Leon “repeatedly and emphatically expressed a heightened concern that ‘they were being followed,’” the affidavit stated. They said Guillermo Raya Leon repeatedly said he had seen unmarked vehicles he believed were law enforcement wherever he went.

Brown was surveilling the area in an unmarked Jeep SUV in the parking lot of the complex, according to the affidavit.

Misty May Raya reportedly told investigators Guillermo Raya Leon left the apartment and walked in an indirect manner to Brown’s vehicle. She saw Guillermo Raya Leon engage in a verbal exchange with Brown and shortly after she heard gunshots.

According to the affidavit, Guillermo Raya Leon said Brown shot at him first. Misty May Raya said Guillermo Raya Leon was still armed with the revolver he reportedly used to shoot at Brown when they left in the Toyota.

Other investigators reported hearing “several possible gunshots” in the area, and saw the Toyota, occupied with who investigators believe were Abran and Guillermo Raya Leon and Misty May Raya, drive away at a high rate of speed. Residents of the complex discovered Brown had been shot in the chest while sitting in his vehicle.

A search in the vicinity of the scene led investigators to discover a “large, silver revolver” though no shell casings were found near Brown’s vehicle, which was consistent with a revolver’s method of fire, the affidavit stated. Witnesses stated they heard one shot, a pause, then several more gunshots. Investigation of the revolver showed one fired shell casing in the weapon.

The firearm was reported as stolen, according to a search of the serial number done by investigators.

The Toyota was found crashed and abandoned near Interstate 205 and Padden Parkway, according to the affidavit. Misty May Raya and Abran Raya Leon were located in the backyard of a nearby house, though Guillermo Raya Leon was not found at that time.

Guillermo Raya Leon would be found two days later by U.S. Marshals in Salem, according to police reports. He is currently held without bail in Clark County Jail.

The investigation into Brown’s death transitioned to the Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team, stated a news release. It will be led by the Vancouver Police Department.

“The Clark County Law Enforcement Council (LEC), made up of the Clark and Skamania County sheriffs and the police chiefs in Clark County, has opted to broaden the activation criteria of the IIT for this investigation,” stated a release. “It appears that Detective Sergeant Brown used force, and although no death, substantial bodily harm or great bodily harm occurred, the attempt was made and therefore the SWIIR was activated.”

Brown’s death received an outpouring of support from the local community. On July 29, dozens of individuals gathered for a “Back the Blue” fundraiser in the parking lot of Living Hope Church. According to organizers, the fundraiser brought in more than $1,200 for Brown’s family.

On Aug. 3, thousands gathered either for Brown’s memorial service or to watch a procession of law enforcement bring his casket along Interstate 5 from Clark College.

The event space at ilani was filled with members of law enforcement from across the nation, including ones from Chicago, Dallas and New York, Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins said.

“Jeremy was my everything. Those of you that knew him are definitely thinking ‘amen, mine, too,’ because that’s just who he was, the most sincere, honest, loyal, loving and driven man that one could ever know,” said Brown’s wife Jill during the memorial.

Jill Brown said her late husband “did not just have the heart of a lion, he was a lion,” adding he “walked life with a quiet, humble strength that cannot be explained, it just was.”

​​Brown was posthumously promoted to sergeant following his death.

August: David Bogdanov Trial

The jury in the trial of a man accused of killing transgender teen Nikki Kuhnhausen found the defendant, David Bogdanov, guilty following a two-week trial.

On Aug. 27, the jury found Bogdanov, 27, guilty of second-degree murder and malicious harassment, the latter of which is a hate crime offense. He received a sentence of nearly 20 years in prison.

Bogdanov’s convictions stem from the disappearance of Kuhnhausen, who was 17 at the time, in June 2019. Her remains were found near Larch Mountain in December that year, 10 days before Bogdanov was arrested.

According to court records, Bogdanov met Kuhnhausen in Vancouver on June 5, 2019, and Bogdanov was going to help her get a cell phone. After arriving at a residence in Clark County, Bogdanov discovered Kuhnhausen was transgender, after which Bogdanov strangled her to death. Bogdanov claimed he acted in self-defense after Kuhnhausen attacked him.

September-October: ‘Medical freedom’ ordinance spurs controversy in Battle Ground

A proposed ordinance by one Battle Ground City councilor led to protests in front of city mayor Adrian Cortes’ house.

During its Oct. 4 meeting, the city council voted 4-2 against the proposed “medical freedom” ordinance. Chief concerns cited among those who opposed the ordinance focused on the potential for legal challenges that the city’s insurance pool wouldn’t cover.

The meeting was the third time the city council had discussions about the ordinance, which was first proposed by councilor Brian Munson on Sept. 7.

When presented in full for the first time on Sept. 20, the ordinance stated that if approved, it would prohibit the city from mandating vaccinations for city employees, contractors and volunteers with the city. The ordinance also prohibited requirements on facial coverings or social distancing in public spaces and buildings, and also prohibited the city from requiring proof of vaccination within city limits.

On Sept. 19, demonstrators gathered in the 2600 block of Northeast Eighth Avenue in a North Clark County rally regarding the city’s stance on masking and vaccination requirements. Though Cortes was not home, people filled the corners of the nearby intersection as they listened to music and discussed why they felt the ordinance was necessary.

October: Finn Hall now host to event center

The historic Finn Hall of Hockinson is now host to an event gathering space named after its new owner’s beloved pet.

In October, DeeAnn “Dee” Stansbury and her husband, Brett Stansbury opened Cloverlane Mercantile and Event Center in Hockinson.

Naming the place after the couple’s dog, Clover, the Stansburys revived the building and hoped to bring back the spirit the hall once emitted.

The pub is riddled with jerseys on the walls, vinyls of athletes, and vintage tables with sports team logos epoxied onto them. The Stansburys have a love for Ireland, and some of the decorations were brought from the country.

While the upstairs ballroom is still intact, the couple added a stage and has already set up a drum kit with a medieval castle design, complete with knight statues, for bands to play. They expect to have rock and country bands play, matching the demographics of the area. The couple also wants to host parties and weddings at the venue.

The community has been excited and are incredibly supportive, the Stansburys said. Dee and Brett felt there weren’t any big businesses in Hockinson the community could go to, so they wanted to bring more life to the area by opening the event center.

“It’s a miracle we’re here,” Dee said. “However, I know God has great plans for this building.”

At the time the story was published, Cloverlane was set to be a private event center, but the Stansburys plan to open it to the public at a later date.

November: BGPS levy passes after second attempt

After a defeat in the February election, a replacement levy for Battle Ground Public Schools passed with a comfortable victory in November.

As of the certified count of ballots in Clark County on Nov. 5, the levy had about 54.5% in support of the measure. The levy funds programs and resources across the district, from technology, to electives, to building maintenance and transportation.

The district placed a levy before voters earlier in the year, but the ballot measure was defeated when about 52.4% of voters opposed the measure in February.

Following the first count of ballots in the November general election, BGPS Superintendent Denny Waters was “extremely optimistic” about the way the numbers were trending.

“There’s a lot of good feelings for us right now,” Waters said.

The estimated rate of the levy is $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed value on properties, lower than the current $2.32 per $1,000 of assessed value. The new levy would cost residents about $123 less on their annual property tax on a $450,000 home.

The levy will collect $26.75 million in 2022, $28.2 million in 2023, $29.65 million in 2024 and $31.1 million in 2025.

The levy made up about 14% of the district’s budget in the 2020-2021 school year. Apart from funding programs already in place, the levy also allowed for the return of middle school sports in the district. Registration for sports will start with boys and girls basketball, which begins in January and February, respectively.

November-December: VanNatta secures school board race after recount

One of a multitude of North Clark County races in the November general election was so close it went to a mandatory recount.

As of the Nov. 23 certification for the election, the race for Hockinson School District Board of Directors District 1 seat had a difference of only 11 votes. Challenger Teresa VanNatta, a teacher in another district and a business owner, had the marginal lead of 1,600 votes while the appointed incumbent Tim Hawkins, a career business executive, secured 1,589 ballots.

As of the initial count of votes, VanNatta held a clearer lead, beginning with about 55.3% of the votes. As more ballots were counted, the lead shrunk until it entered the recount range.

After the recount in December the number of votes among the candidates remained the same so VanNatta won the seat.

The county has had 13 elections with mandatory recounts since April 2000, Clark County Elections Director Cathie Garber said. Seven of the recounts were in even-year elections, while this recount makes six for odd-year races.

This past election featured another mandatory recount race in Vancouver. The city’s council position 1 race has Kim Harless leading John Blom by 55 votes.

“We’ve had a few that had multiple races on them,” Garber said. “It’s not unheard of.”

December: Zimmerman receives charges over comments about Peterson shooting

A former Clark County judge who was recorded saying disparaging remarks about a 21-year-old Black man killed by law enforcement faces formal charges for his actions.

On Dec. 3, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct announced it had found probable cause that former district court judge Darvin Zimmerman violated the state’s conduct code. The decision was in connection to remarks Zimmerman made following court proceedings on March 10 about Kevin Peterson Jr. and his father. Peterson was shot four times by deputies from the Clark County Sheriff Office in October 2020 after a failed drug operation in Hazel Dell.

Months later, Zimmerman was recorded in the courtroom referring to Peterson as “the Black guy that they’re trying to make an angel out of,” while also criticizing his father, Kevin Peterson Sr.

“The next thing he wakes up with dollar signs in his eyes,” Zimmerman said about Peterson’s father.

Zimmerman added the elder Peterson had been contacted by George Floyd’s attorneys.

The statement of charges indicated Zimmerman “gave the impression he had special access to ongoing police investigations because he had a relative in local law enforcement.” In the recording Zimmerman said his son, a sheriff’s deputy, was on scene during the fatal shooting though he was not one of the three sheriff’s deputies who fired shots.

In August, an investigation by the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office determined the deputies’ use of force did not merit criminal charges. The family of Peterson filed a civil lawsuit for his wrongful death by the sheriff’s office.

Following the broadcast of the recording, which was shown on YouTube, the commission received dozens of complaints including a self-report from Zimmerman. The commission gave Zimmerman a statement of allegations in May which alleged his comments “displayed overt racial bias, indicated a lack of impartiality, and implied (Zimmerman) has a personal channel of communication with the sheriff’s department regarding pending and impending cases.”

The commission stated Zimmerman appeared to violate Canon 1 and Canon 2 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Canon 1 states a judge “shall uphold and promote the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.” Canon 2 states a judge “should perform the duties of judicial office impartially, competently, and diligently.”

Zimmerman responded to the allegations, denying his conduct violated the judicial code.

The comments led a number of organizations ranging from community members to fellow judges to come out with statements decrying Zimmerman’s comments. Following discovery of the recording, Zimmerman took a leave of absence. He officially retired as judge on June 30, according to the statement of charges.

Zimmerman had 21 days from receiving the statement of charges. If he does not respond, the commission will take the non-answer as an admission to the charges.

Year-round: More than 400 died from COVID-19 in Clark County

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic saw hundreds of Clark County residents die from the disease as new variants of the virus continued to sicken thousands.

As of Dec. 23, Clark County Public Health reported 42,489 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 588 total deaths confirmed or suspected to be due to the disease since the outbreak began. The county saw an increase of 28,674 confirmed cases and 444 deaths since the first health department report of 2021.

Through the variants Clark County saw its recent case rate go from about 50 per 100,000 residents in a 14-day timeframe during the summer to about 550 per 100,000 in early fall. As of Dec. 23, the county saw 263.2 cases per 100,000 of population in the past 14 days.