The Battle Ground Police Department announced two teenagers were arrested after officers responded to attempted vehicle prowls on the east side of the city.
At about 10 p.m. on Sept. 21, officers were dispatched to the area of Southeast Clark Avenue and East Main Street to a report of three masked individuals who were attempting to enter cars, according to a news release. Officers were able to quickly locate and detain two suspects who were 17 years old.
While looking for the third suspect, officers were contacted by a victim who said he had been approached by the three people a block to the south, the release stated. The victim said he was ordered out of the car by one of the suspects who had a gun. The victim then fled.
The victim said they heard a single gunshot as they drove away, the release stated.
The two detained suspects were arrested under suspicion of the attempted carjacking, according to the release. One of them had a handgun magazine on them with a spent cartridge. Both suspects were booked on charges of robbery and assault.
Battle Ground police deployed its K9 unit to track the third suspect with assistance from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Vancouver and Washougal police departments, the release stated. The third suspect had not been found at the time the news release was issued.
Battle Ground Police Chief Mike Fort credited the law enforcement agencies who helped out with the investigation and also the community members who reported seeing the suspicious activity that initiated the officers’ response in the case.
“We are grateful to those community members who saw something suspicious and reported it right away, giving officers the advantage of time,” Fort said.
The investigation into this case is still ongoing.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact detective Sgt. Rick Kelly at 360-342-5200 or via email at rick.kelly@cityofbg.org.
