Clark County sheriff’s deputy fatally stabs a DUI suspect at WSP scale house in Ridgefield

A Clark County sheriff’s deputy fatally stabbed a suspected drunk driver who reportedly tried to take the deputy’s gun late Wednesday night at the Washington State Patrol weigh station in Ridgefield, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

Deputies responded to a crash about 11 p.m. near Northeast 14th Court and Minnehaha Street in Hazel Dell. A vehicle had crashed into two parked cars, according to the statement.

Deputies believed the driver was impaired and conducted a DUI investigation. The driver was arrested and taken to the scale house at the weigh station on Interstate 5 in Ridgefield. The scale house has a room equipped with a breath-alcohol measuring device used for evidentiary measurements, the sheriff’s office said.

The deputy and the driver arrived at the scale house about 11:30 p.m.

About midnight, the deputy reported over the radio that he was in a physical fight with the driver, who had attempted to take his gun, according to the statement. The deputy said he stabbed the suspect several times.

Law enforcement at the scale house provided first aid while a Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue ambulance was called.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:39 a.m. this morning.

The deputy, who was not injured and will be identified later, is on critical incident leave, as per standard protocol.

The driver has not been identified.

The sheriff’s office notified the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations, which will investigate the incident. Video from body-worn cameras and in-car cameras will be released later.

In compliance with state law, sheriff’s office personnel will not be involved in the investigation.

All other information on the investigation will be released by the Office of Independent Investigations.

The identity of the deceased and cause and manner of death will be released by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.