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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

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Washougal woman arrested in home invasion

Camas man was allegedly held hostage in an attempt to force him to pay a debt

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A Washougal woman has been arrested in connection with an August home invasion in which a 51-year-old Camas man was reportedly held hostage in an attempt to force him to pay a debt.

Nicole R. Bryden, 34, appeared in Clark County Superior Court on Monday on suspicion of first-degree burglary and unlawful imprisonment.

Judge David Gregerson held her in lieu of $75,000 bail and appointed Vancouver law firm Grecco Downs to defend her. She is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Oct. 7.

Court records say Bryden was one of three suspects who entered a home in the 3400 block of Southeast Second Street on Aug. 12 and held resident Fred Hinesley against his will.

An alleged accomplice, Nathan D. Benson, 35, was arrested Sept. 18 on suspicion of second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment, first-degree robbery and residential burglary. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 20.

A third suspect, Vincent Ferguson, is still wanted on an arrest warrant, said Deputy Prosecutor Julie Carmena.

According to a court affidavit by Camas police Officer Henry Scott, the resident owed money to Bryden and Ferguson.

The suspects are accused of forcing Hinesley to the back of his bed and threatening and intimidating him for about 90 minutes before making off with some of his belongings.

Hinesley described Bryden as the “queen bee” of the plot.

“She just sat in a chair telling the others what to do,” Scott wrote in the affidavit.

Meanwhile, Benson allegedly threatened the victim by waving a knife at him and then grabbing a machete from the wall and putting the point of the blade under Hinesley’s chin. He also threw a cellphone at Hinesley, Scott wrote.

Ferguson shouted in an intimidating way. For instance, at one point, he told Hinesley, “you’re not going anywhere, (expletive),” according to Scott’s affidavit.

Hinesley told police he was able to wrestle the machete away from Benson and scare away the assailants, court records say.

Before leaving the residence, the group gathered some of Hinesley’s belongings without his consent as payment for the debt, Scott wrote. They took a laptop computer, a bag of DVDs, a bag of tools and two knives, court records say.

Scott arrested Bryden on Friday and interviewed her at the Camas Police Department.

Court records say that she confessed to going to Hinesley’s residence to recover the $175 he owed her but denied ever threatening him or seeing any of the suspects threatening him with a knife or machete.

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