By Mia Ryder-Marks
The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Investigators on Friday released body-worn camera footage from Clark County sheriff’s deputies that shed light on the fatal shooting of a suspect April 13 in Salmon Creek.
The footage shows a suspect in a series of carjackings earlier in the day pointing a handgun at deputies.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office earlier this week identified the man who was fatally shot as Benjamin Steven Woods, 41, of Prineville, Ore.
Investigators also released the names of the deputies involved in the shooting.
Click below to see full video.
Sheriff’s deputies had responded earlier in the day to carjackings in Hazel Dell and Salmon Creek before confronting a suspect about 11:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the American Legion hall, 14011 N.E. 20th Ave.
The video includes footage from body cameras worn by Clark County sheriff’s deputies Jim Payne, Michael Gonzalez and Enrique Cordero, as well as Sgt. Fred Harrison. Payne and Gonzalez fired their weapons. Harrison and Cordero were witnesses.
Payne started with the department in 2000; Harrison, a patrol sergeant, has been with the office since 2006; Gonzalez and Cordero both started with the sheriff’s office in 2021; Gonzalez has seven years of law enforcement experience while Cordero has two.
Footage from multiple body cameras shows deputies confronting Woods in the parking lot of the American Legion . Deputies can be heard telling Woods to raise his hands. Woods briefly raised his arms before putting his hands in his pockets and then moving toward the building.
Payne is heard yelling, “Gun in his hand,” and then, “Send the dog. There’s people over there.”
Woods, followed by deputies, can be seen entering the Legion hall through a back door that goes to a kitchen.
About two dozen people, including staff and volunteers, can be seen on the video inside the hall. The Legion was hosting its weekly bingo game.
Payne is heard ordering the people in the hall to leave. Gonzalez is heard telling Woods, “Dude, you’re going to get shot.” Woods can be heard replying, “You’re gonna get shot.”
Woods stood in the doorway of the bathroom and appeared to raise a gun.
The footage shows Payne and Gonzalez pointing their guns at Woods and firing. The video shows a gun on the floor after Woods crumples.
After they secured the scene, deputies cut away Woods’ clothes and applied bandages and a tourniquet to his wounds. Medical personnel pronounced Woods dead.
The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team, led by the Vancouver Police Department, is continuing to investigate.
All four of the sheriff’s department personnel remain on critical incident leave, which is standard protocol.
A woman, later identified as Lyndsey Dawn Jones, 42, was also a suspect in the carjackings that led to the shooting. Jones was arrested around 3 p.m. in the 2100 block of Northeast 144th Street , according to court records.
A homeowner said he found Jones hiding in his garage. The homeowner called 911 and followed Jones to the parking lot of a nearby business, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Jones appeared in court Monday and is facing an allegation of residential burglary. Bail was set at $2,500. Jones’ arraignment is April 29.
Watch the video below for Gordon Graham’s breakdown of what happens after an OIS.
—
(c)2024 The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.)
Visit The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.) at www.columbian.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.