Suspect in Cowlitz County deputy’s fatal shooting killed

“People living in the area of Kalama River (Road) can be assured that the situation has been resolved, and there is no longer any danger to the community,” the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office said in the Facebook post.

Brothers arrested

According to The Daily News of Longview, investigators identified Butts as the shooter after interviewing two brothers, Matthew Veatch, 25, and Michael Veatch, 33, both of Kalama. Matthew Veatch was arrested on suspicion of first-degree rendering criminal assistance; Michael Veatch was taken into custody on a Department of Corrections warrant unrelated to DeRosier’s death, Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Brent Waddell said at the press conference.

“Most of the players, at this point in time, have been identified. The investigation continues as to their involvement,” Waddell said.

Matthew Veatch appeared Monday afternoon in Cowlitz County Superior Court, where Judge Michael Evans found probable cause to hold him on suspicion of aiding Butts after DeRosier was shot, according to The Daily News. He is being held on $50,000 bail. His arraignment is scheduled for April 30. Michael Veatch has not been accused in connection with Deputy DeRosier’s death.

DeRosier, 29, was shot Saturday night. He was responding to a call about a disabled motor home blocking Fallert Road, in a rural area about 3 miles east of Interstate 5. Cowlitz County Sheriff Brad Thurman said the motor home is registered to Butts’ mother, who told authorities it was in her son’s possession.

DeRosier was shot shortly after arriving on the scene. He had reported over police radio that someone was shooting at him. Kalama police officers responded and brought him to nearby Haydu Park for life-saving efforts, according to The Daily News. He was transported by LifeFlight helicopter to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, where he died, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office said.

Matthew Veatch told police that Butts came to his residence on Saturday night, minutes after he heard what sounded like a gunshot. Butts “appeared dirty and stated he needed to get out of there,” and gave Veatch a handgun to “get rid of,” The Daily News reported, citing court documents.

He put the firearm in a locked gun cabinet in his room and then guided Butts through the woods to an abandoned barn, Veatch told investigators. On the way, Butts told Veatch he had shot a police officer, court records say.

The shooting is the first in-line-of-duty death in the history of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, which stretches back to the mid-1800s, Thurman said.

Thurman also confirmed that Butts is the brother of Daniel Butts, who recently pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Rainier, Ore., Police Chief Ralph Painter in 2011. Painter, 55, was responding to an attempted theft at a car audio store when he was killed. Daniel Butts, 29, was sentenced last month to 48 years and nine months in prison; he is expected to spend some of that time in a state mental hospital, according to a story by The Daily News.

Investigations, honors

The Clark County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit and several other agencies are investigating the shootings.

DeRosier leaves a wife, Katie, and his only child, 5-month-old Lilly. He was a 2008 Kelso High School graduate and had served as a deputy in Cowlitz County since 2016. He was a 2012 graduate of Washington State University, where he earned a degree in criminal justice.

At Monday’s press conference, Thurman thanked the community and fellow law enforcement agencies for their outpouring of support following DeRosier’s untimely death.

Thurman said it was a big relief to watch numerous police vehicles drive away from a command post set up for the manhunt after more than 36 hours of intense work.

“This is not the result we wanted to see with the suspect. … We’ve been robbed of having answers as to why from the suspect,” Thurman said, adding he thought the Kelso police officers who fatally shot Brian Butts acted swiftly and appropriately.

Thurman said a service for DeRosier is still being planned, and the sheriff’s office will let the public know the details soon.

A processional will be held this evening to return DeRosier’s body from Vancouver to the Kelso area. Clark County Fire District 6 plans to stage engines on the Northeast 63rd, 129th, 134th and 139th street overpasses to honor DeRosier.