Investigators identified the Clark County sheriff’s deputies that fatally shot a man suspected in a carjacking spree Saturday.
Benjamin Steven Woods, 41, of Prineville, Ore., died from multiple gunshot wounds in the shooting at the American Legion Hall in Salmon Creek, the medical examiner’s office said Wednesday.
A Friday statement from the Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team, led by the Vancouver Police Department, identified Deputy Jim Payne and Deputy Michael Gonzalez as the two deputies fired at Woods.
Investigators said Sgt. Fred Harrison and Deputy Enrique Cordero were witnesses.
Payne is assigned to the Central Precinct Patrol and has been with the sheriff’s office since 2000. Gonzalez is assigned to the swing shift patrol and has been with the sheriff’s office since 2021. Harrison is a patrol sergeant and has 18 years with the sheriff’s office. Cordero is assigned to west precinct patrol and has been with the sheriff’s office since 2006.
All four of the deputies remain on critical incident leave, which is standard protocol.
Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s office for review.
Salmon Creek shooting
On Saturday, deputies responded at 10:38 a.m. to a reported carjacking in the 9200 block of Northeast 15th Avenue in Hazel Dell, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
The victim told deputies a man armed with a handgun and a woman stole his van. About 15 minutes later, deputies were dispatched to a store at 14300 N.E 20th Ave., in Salmon Creek, where witnesses reported a man and woman had attempted to carjack another vehicle, the sheriff’s office said earlier this week.
Deputies located the stolen van from the Hazel Dell carjacking behind the American Legion at 14011 N.E. 20th Ave. Deputies saw the man suspected of the carjackings go into the building. The man was located inside and was shot, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies later arrested the woman, identified as Lyndsey Dawn Jones, 42 around 3 p.m. in the 2100 block of Northeast 144th Street, according to court records.
A homeowner said he found Jones hiding in his garage. The homeowner called 911 and followed Jones to the parking lot of a nearby business, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Jones appeared in court Monday and is facing an allegation of residential burglary. Clark County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Snider set bail at $2,500 and scheduled Jones’ arraignment for April 29.
