A pursuit of a stolen vehicle involving a firearm was quickly and safely ended thanks to the partnership of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Battle Ground police and the CCSO grappler pursuit immobilization system.
CCSO deputies were investigating a residential burglary and vehicle theft in Northeast Vancouver during the night of Tuesday, Dec. 2. Not much later, officers with the Battle Ground Police Department (BGPD) learned the stolen vehicle was parked near the Starbucks south of Fred Meyer.
CCSO deputies learned the suspect reportedly entered a garage, stole a vehicle containing a firearm and fled, a social media post by the sheriff’s office stated.
The suspect, 40-year-old Danielle Crosby, was arrested on multiple felony charges, including residential burglary, motor vehicle theft, firearm theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of assault in the second degree, and felony attempting to elude.
After learning the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle, Battle Ground police officers responded, located the vehicle and believed Crosby was still inside. With a firearm involved and the risk of flight high, officers requested additional resources, including CCSO units equipped with a Grappler pursuit immobilization system, the CCSO social media post stated.
When deputies and officers moved in on the vehicle, Crosby accelerated, dodged patrol vehicles and sped out of the parking lot.
A pursuit began and law enforcement successfully deployed stop sticks, the social media post stated. Even with damaged tires, the suspect continued driving until CCSO utilized the Grappler to immobilize the vehicle near Northeast 72nd Avenue and state Route 502 at Dollars Corner, the post added.
Behind the wheel of the grappled vehicle, Crosby then rammed two patrol cars, causing significant damage to one of them, as shown in a video posted to social media by CCSO. Deputies had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck. Deputies and officers then pinned the vehicle and safely took Crosby into custody. No deputies or officers were injured during the incident, the post stated.
Crosby, a convicted felon, is prohibited from having firearms. She also has previous charges for unlawful possession of firearms, CCSO stated. She was booked into the Clark County Jail following the arrest.
CCSO and BGPD were also assisted by the Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Department to bring the dangerous incident to a safe and successful resolution.
“We are so incredibly thankful for the partnership we share with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the other law enforcement agencies in the region,” said Dennis Flynn, chief of BGPD. “This incident highlights the exceptional coordination and teamwork between the deputies and officers in safely apprehending this violent and dangerous felony suspect.”
For Flynn, the efforts and partnership enacted to the highest degree demonstrated the agencies’ commitment to maintaining safety throughout Clark County. The situation reflects the need to request additional resources outside of the Battle Ground Police Department and puts the need for law enforcement funding to the front and center.
“Both the Battle Ground Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office face the challenge of operating with finite resources,” Flynn said. “We are doing everything possible to maximize the effectiveness of those resources, including, as this case demonstrates, joining forces to address these crime issues. We have seen increases in certain types of crime and have observed criminals becoming more brazen in their actions, as this recent case clearly illustrates. We are hopeful that, with the addition of more police officers in the region, we will have the resources necessary to address these crime issues, enhance our traffic enforcement efforts, and ultimately make the community safer.”
Flynn further expressed his gratitude toward the partnership with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
"Sheriff Horch and the deputies at the Clark County Sheriff's Office have been incredible partners to the Battle Ground Police Department,” Flynn said. “The skillset they bring and their willingness to assist shows their commitment to providing safe communities to Clark County residents as well as to the city of Battle Ground. Simply put, they are a top-notch police agency. They also understand that while police and sheriff departments may have jurisdictional boundaries, the criminals do not. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office, as evident in this case, are willing to partner with other us and other police agencies in the area with the shared goal of apprehending violent and dangerous criminals.”
