Jogger confronts teens after alleged butt-slapping

A confrontation involving a knife ensued Friday afternoon after a woman jogger chased down two teenagers who she says accosted her on a run, allegedly slapping her on the buttocks.

The 23-year-old Vancouver woman was jogging at 6 p.m. on the Padden Parkway path in the 7900 block, east of Andresen Road, when she said the two teenagers rode by on bikes. One of them allegedly slapped her on the bottom, according to Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Fred Neiman.

The males, a 16-year-old and 18-year-old, were strangers to her, the woman said, according to Neiman.

The woman then chased the teens to verbally confront them. The 16-year-old allegedly displayed a pocket knife during the argument, Neiman said.

Two men driving by noticed the confrontation and stopped to break it up. As deputies responded, the men let the woman sit in their car for safety.

No one was hurt, Neiman said; no knife was found.

The Vancouver 18-year-old accused of slapping the woman on the butt, Josiah Sullivan, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault, a gross misdemeanor. He has since been released from the Clark County Jail.

The 16-year-old Vancouver boy was released to his parents; Neiman said charges of displaying a dangerous weapon were referred to juvenile prosecutors.

“We really recommend people avoid physical confrontation,” Neiman said. “Fortunately, no one was hurt” in this case.