Menu Newsletters
The Columbian logo tagline
Login
Tuesday,  March 25 , 2025
Current weather Vancouver, WA

Linkedin Pinterest
Photo of Jessica Prokop

Stories by Jessica Prokop

Columbian Local News Editor

Twitter
@jprokop16
 phone icon
(360) 735-4551
 email icon
jessica.prokop@columbian.com
David R. Zarb of La Center makes a first appearance June 15, 2021, in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of vehicular homicide in connection with a triple-fatal crash on state Highway 503 near Fargher Lake. He was sentenced Monday to 12 1/4 years in prison.

La Center man who drove drunk sentenced to more than 12 years in crash that killed 3

David R. Zarb of La Center makes a first appearance June 15, 2021, in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of vehicular homicide in connection with a triple-fatal crash on state Highway 503 near Fargher Lake. He was sentenced Monday to 12 1/4 years in prison.

April 24, 2023, 5:04pm Clark County News

A La Center man who was driving drunk when he killed three teenage girls in June 2021 on state Highway 503 was sentenced Monday to 12¼ years in prison. Read story

A suspicious object found at Heritage High School in Orchards was determined to be homeless, according to the Clark County Sheriff's Office.

Fake bomb prompts lockdown at Heritage High School in Orchards

A suspicious object found at Heritage High School in Orchards was determined to be homeless, according to the Clark County Sheriff's Office.

April 24, 2023, 2:50pm Clark County News Free

A suspicious object found outside Heritage High School prompted a school lockdown and bomb unit response Monday before authorities determined it to be harmless. Read story

Investigators recovered 11 firearms, more than 2 pounds of methamphetamine, about 5,000 fentanyl pills, cocaine, crack cocaine, body armor, documents related to fraud and other items after serving a search warrant at a La Center residence Friday.

La Center home raided in firearms, drug trafficking investigation

Investigators recovered 11 firearms, more than 2 pounds of methamphetamine, about 5,000 fentanyl pills, cocaine, crack cocaine, body armor, documents related to fraud and other items after serving a search warrant at a La Center residence Friday.

April 14, 2023, 4:20pm Clark County News

Authorities arrested a man Friday at a residence in La Center in connection with a Vancouver firearms trafficking and drug distribution investigation. Read story

Kenneth Michael Debruyn, 40, of Vancouver appeared Friday in Clark County Superior Court on a warrant for attempted first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, attempt to elude a pursuing police vehicle, possession of another's identification and attempted theft of a motor vehicle.

Vancouver man faces attempted murder charge in March 6 Hazel Dell shooting

Kenneth Michael Debruyn, 40, of Vancouver appeared Friday in Clark County Superior Court on a warrant for attempted first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, attempt to elude a pursuing police vehicle, possession of another's identification and attempted theft of a motor vehicle.

April 14, 2023, 3:58pm Clark County News

A judge set bail at $750,000 for a Vancouver man accused of shooting his girlfriend’s estranged husband during a confrontation March 6 at a Hazel Dell apartment complex. Read story

Six men, including one from Vancouver, were arrested Thursday in connection with an Oregon undercover child predator sting.

Vancouver man arrested in Oregon child predator sting

Six men, including one from Vancouver, were arrested Thursday in connection with an Oregon undercover child predator sting.

April 14, 2023, 12:03pm Clark County News

Washington County sheriff’s deputies arrested a Vancouver man Thursday in connection with an Oregon undercover child predator sting. Read story

(iStock.com)

Box-truck chase from Battle Ground to Portland ends with crash, DV suspect’s arrest

(iStock.com)

April 14, 2023, 10:57am Clark County News

A Vancouver man wanted for a prior domestic violence incident was arrested Friday morning after Clark County sheriff’s deputies say he led them on a chase from Battle Ground to Portland in a box truck. Read story

Kirkland Warren makes a first appearance on suspicion of murder in the deaths of his former girlfriend, Meshay Melendez, and her daughter, Layla Stewart, as Judge Suzan Clark looks on at the Clark County Courthouse on Monday afternoon, April 3, 2023.

Prosecutors will charge Warren with aggravated murder in shooting deaths of Meshay Melendez, daughter Laylavideo icon

Kirkland Warren makes a first appearance on suspicion of murder in the deaths of his former girlfriend, Meshay Melendez, and her daughter, Layla Stewart, as Judge Suzan Clark looks on at the Clark County Courthouse on Monday afternoon, April 3, 2023.

April 3, 2023, 4:52pm Clark County News Free

Clark County prosecutors say they plan to charge a Vancouver man accused in the slaying of his former girlfriend and her 7-year-old daughter with aggravated first-degree murder. If convicted, he would be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Read story

Two hurt when car crashes on Highway 503

April 3, 2023, 2:59pm Clark County News

Two people were injured late Sunday afternoon when their car left state Highway 503, or Lewis River Road, and struck a fence. Read story

Kirkland C. Warren, 27, appeared Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of tampering with a witness, violating a no-contact order and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Warren facing first-degree murder in shooting deaths of Meshay Melendez, daughter Layla 

Kirkland C. Warren, 27, appeared Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of tampering with a witness, violating a no-contact order and unlawful possession of a firearm.

March 31, 2023, 3:06pm Clark County News Free

The Vancouver Police Department announced Friday that Kirkland C. Warren is facing two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his former girlfriend, Meshay “Karmen” Melendez, and her 7-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart. Read story

Layla Stewart's auntie, Lashay Taylor, in purple memorial shirt, grieves at a community vigil Sunday for the 7-year-old girl and her mother, Meshay Melendez, in Esther Short Park.

Hundreds gather to mourn, honor Meshay Melendez and daughter Layla

Layla Stewart's auntie, Lashay Taylor, in purple memorial shirt, grieves at a community vigil Sunday for the 7-year-old girl and her mother, Meshay Melendez, in Esther Short Park.

March 26, 2023, 3:40pm Clark County News Free

Slain mother and daughter Meshay "Karmen" Melendez and Layla Stewart will be remembered for being “so full of energy and life." No matter how bad of a day, they would wipe away a loved one’s tears and bring a smile to their face. Read story