Vancouver police officer injured in downtown altercation

A Vancouver police officer was injured Friday night during an altercation with a man in the downtown area.

Patrol units were called at about 8:35 p.m. for a complaint of an aggressive panhandler at the corner of Sixth and Main streets.

Other reports indicated that the panhandler was threatening patrons of a nearby bar, according to a news release from the Vancouver Police Department.

Upon arrival, police contacted the suspect, and a physical altercation ensued between an officer and the suspect. Both were injured and transported via ambulance to a local hospital, the news release said.

The officer has since been released from the hospital, Sgt. Jim Martin of the Vancouver Police Department said.

The suspect’s condition was also believed to be stable. Names of the involved officer and suspect were not released.

Detectives with the Vancouver Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit responded and took over the investigation. Any witnesses who were not contacted at the scene are asked to call the Vancouver Police Department’s dispatch center.