Downtown Vancouver protests result in minor damage

Protests in downtown Vancouver late Friday resulted in vandalism to several businesses and county buildings.

A crowd estimated at approximately 200 gathered at Esther Short Park after the conclusion of a much larger candlelight vigil in Hazel Dell for Kevin Peterson, Jr., who was shot and killed by Clark County sheriff’s deputies Thursday evening.

From the park, protesters marched through the streets. A few windows were reported broken along Evergreen Boulevard between Columbia and Washington streets. The county prosecutor’s office and other properties were tagged with graffiti.

According to an Associated Press reporter on the scene, flags were burned and federal agents clothed in riot gear surrounded the small Federal Building across the street from the courthouse, and warned people that trespassing on federal property would be subject to arrest.

Multiple videos showed two vehicles facing each other just after midnight on a downtown street. Two shots were heard but reporters at the scene said it didn’t appear anyone was hit, the AP reported.

Authorities declared an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters to disperse. At least one person appeared to have been detained, according to video posted online by a journalist. However, there was no immediate report by local agencies of any arrests.