The man shot Wednesday night in Camas by a Clark County sheriff’s deputy was booked Thursday into the Clark County Jail after he was treated for injuries at a local hospital.
Camas police booked Patrick Wetzel, 41, on suspicion of first-degree burglary, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, aiming/discharging a firearm and four counts of domestic violence no-contact order violation, according to Camas Police Chief Tina Jones. Jail records show Wetzel was also booked on outstanding warrants from Camas Municipal Court.
A spokeswoman for PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center confirmed Wetzel was treated at the hospital and discharged.
He was scheduled to appear on the allegations Friday afternoon in Clark County Superior Court, after The Columbian’s print deadline.
Camas police are investigating the incident that led to the shooting in the 2300 block of Everett Street, and the Washington State Patrol is leading the investigation into the shooting as part of the Southwest Washington Independent Investigation Team.
The Camas Police Department confirmed Thursday that officers had previously responded to Wetzel’s house and had done so several times in the past few weeks. Municipal court records show police responded to the house multiple times for allegations of Wetzel violating a no-contact order with his estranged wife.
Neighbors called 911 about 10 p.m. Wednesday to report hearing gunshots. Neighbors continued reporting hearing more gunshots for the next half-hour, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies and Camas, Vancouver and Washougal police responded.
About 10:30 p.m., investigators using a drone spotted someone outside Wetzel’s home. The sheriff’s office said deputies believed the person, later identified by Camas police as Wetzel, was the subject of a no-contact order that prohibited him from being at the residence or having firearms.
Armored vehicles responded to the scene.
The man eventually got into a vehicle in the driveway of the home. At 11:03 p.m., law enforcement, using an armored vehicle, approached him and tried to talk with him. At that point a deputy shot him, according to the sheriff’s office.
Responders provided first aid at the scene, the sheriff’s office said, and Wetzel was taken to an area hospital. No one else, including law enforcement officers, were injured.
The deputy who shot Wetzel was placed on critical incident leave, per agency protocol, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials had not released the deputy’s identity as of The Columbian’s press time.
