A Vancouver man is accused of impersonating a police officer as part of a ruse to try to kidnap and rape women, according to a probable cause affidavit. Investigators have identified two victims, but the prosecution says there could be more.
Shannon “Shawn” Stover, 46, appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and a felony fugitive warrant out of Clackamas County, Ore.
The allegations stem from an incident in which Stover allegedly kidnapped and blindfolded a woman, took her to his residence and raped her in a recording studio in his garage, Deputy Prosecutor Patrick Robinson said.
“It’s definitely one of the more unique and troubling cases that I’ve had as a prosecutor,” Robinson said.
Stover has an extensive criminal history in Oregon, Robinson said, and is on probation in Washington County, Ore. He said Stover may be facing a “third strike” — under the state’s three-strike law, offenders convicted three times of certain violent and sexual felonies receive mandatory life sentences.
He asked that Stover be held on $1 million bail, in addition to the $40,000 bail set in the fugitive case. Judge Daniel Stahnke granted the request.
On Nov. 26, a man, identified by police as Stover, arranged to hire a woman for escort services. He gave her directions to the 11200 block of Southeast Maxon Road in Vancouver, a remote and fairly dark, dead-end road, court documents said.
A friend gave the woman a ride to the location at about midnight. As they were looking for the address, a speeding car came from behind blocking their way. The car activated flashing red and blue lights and appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle, the affidavit said.
Stover, dressed in what looked like a police uniform, got out of the car and shined a flashlight in the woman’s eyes, court records said. He then pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the victim and ordered her out of the car, saying it was a sting operation, according to court documents.
He handcuffed and placed the victim in the front of his vehicle and threw the friend’s keys somewhere nearby, according to the affidavit. The victim said she thought she had been arrested, court records state.
Stover allegedly threatened the victim, using a stun gun as he transported her, court records said. He ordered her to keep her head down and drove her to a residence, where he blindfolded her, the affidavit said. He warned her to comply and said if she didn’t she would “end up in a ditch,” court documents show.
He then raped her multiple times and afterward ordered her to shower, the affidavit said. Stover put the still blindfolded woman in a different vehicle and dropped her off at about 2 a.m. in the 500 block of Northeast 104th Avenue, according to court records.
A witness saw the victim standing in the road next to a tan-colored Chevrolet Tahoe, which sped away. Another witness found the victim wandering around the area and offered her assistance, the affidavit states.
The victim didn’t report the rape to police until she was later urged by the good Samaritan, who saw a press release about a nearly identical incident, court documents said.
In that case, the victim was contacted Nov. 27 by a man, believed to be Stover, who wanted to hire her escort services. He directed her to meet him in the 11200 block of Southeast Maxon Road, according to the probable cause affidavit. The woman escaped her attempted kidnapper, who chased her down and shocked her with a stun gun before fleeing the area, court records said.
Search warrant
Stover was arrested Saturday on a felony warrant following a traffic stop in Vancouver, the affidavit states. Police later served a search warrant at his home in the 14600 block of Southeast Eighth Street and found two firearms in his bedroom, including a loaded . 223 rifle and Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun, according to court documents.
Police also found vehicles matching the descriptions of those used in the kidnapping, as well as a police-type uniform with a security emblem badge, an exterior vest with the word “police” on it and a badge emblem, a wig, utility belt and flashlights, court records said.
Stover’s garage and home contained multiple video recording devices, police said, and his garage was set up like a photo studio with a bed. Police seized a camera, video equipment, his cellphone, computer drives and other digital media devices, the affidavit states.
Investigators reviewed some of the electronic evidence, which captured the rape, according to court documents.
Stover refused to cooperate with police during an interview and was booked in the Clark County Jail, court records said.
Robinson said Monday that the investigation is ongoing and that investigators have more digital evidence to review. He anticipates there will be additional charges.
Stahnke appointed Stover an attorney in both the kidnapping and fugitive cases. He will be arraigned Dec. 16.
Anyone with information related to the investigation should call the Vancouver police tip line at 360-487-7399.
