A Vancouver man wanted for attempted murder in Clark County died after he was shot multiple times by police during a pursuit in Oregon.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Service were looking for Andrew Garrette DeHart, 36, regarding his Clark County warrant for attempted murder, kidnapping, first-degree assault and tampering with a witness, according to the Washington County (Ore.) Sheriff’s Office.
Marshals located DeHart at an acquaintance’s home in Seaside, Ore., at about 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to the sheriff’s office. Because DeHart was believed to be armed and was considered dangerous, additional resources were called to the residence.
While law enforcement was en route, DeHart drove away in a 2000 Ford Ranger pickup east on Highway 26, police said.
“It didn’t look like he was spooked, though he was being followed,” Washington County sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Ray said.
When DeHart apparently spotted the marshals and troopers with the Oregon State Police, he sped up and began shooting from his truck, the sheriff’s office reported.
DeHart continued shooting at law enforcement over a distance of about 17 miles, and one patrol vehicle was disabled after being struck by a bullet, the sheriff’s office said. No law enforcement officers were injured.
Three officers positioned themselves ahead of Dehart’s truck, at one end of the Dennis L. Edwards tunnel, northeast of Forest Grove, the sheriff’s office said. When DeHart’s vehicle came through the tunnel and approached officers, they fired their weapons, disabling the truck and injuring DeHart, the sheriff’s office reported.
“They posted up on the east side of the tunnel and they shot in an effort to stop the vehicle, which was successful,” Ray said. “They had medics with them, who immediately began lifesaving efforts.”
DeHart was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, but authorities reported on Thursday that he did not survive.
The Washington County Major Crimes Team is investigating, along with a forensics unit and a crash analysis reconstruction team with the agency.
On Oct. 8, DeHart allegedly tied up Patrick Lenhart and threatened to “blow off his head” with a semi-automatic rifle, according to documents filed in Clark County Superior Court in support of the warrant. DeHart’s alleged accomplice, Michael Anthony Conley, is accused of stabbing Lenhart multiple times during the incident and faces similar charges in connection to the case.
Lenhart was assaulted after being lured to a Vancouver residence, 8102 N.E. 103rd Court, under the pretense of a drug transaction, according to court records. However, investigators think the stabbing is connected to threats made against a friend of Lenhart’s who is supposed to testify in an upcoming criminal trial. That alleged victim told police she had been threatened by Conley and DeHart, who told her she needed to recant her story about what she had witnessed, the affidavit said.
DeHart’s kidnapping charge is related to him allegedly giving the witness a ride without her consent, according to court records.
