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@VancouverPDUSA
Michael was safely located and his family was notified.
***Additional photographs attached***
The Vancouver Police Department is requesting assistance in locating a missing endangered male, missing from his home in Vancouver, WA. Spencer, Michael J. (69 years old). His son last saw him around 2000 hours yesterday (March 21st) and believes he may be experiencing a dementia episode. He has low functionality and requires extensive assistance at home with regular tasks.
Michael is a White male, 5’10”, 190-200 lbs., gray / brown hair, and blue eyes. Michael was last believed to be wearing a dark flannel shirt with a blue under shirt and gray jeans.
Michael does not have a vehicle and is believed to be getting around on foot.
If found, please call the Vancouver Police Department through the Columbia Regional Emergency Services Agency at 311 or 911.
Vancouver, Wash. – On March 18, 2023, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the Springfield Meadows apartments (4317 NE 66th Avenue) regarding a welfare check for Meshay Melendez, 27 years old, and her 7-year-old daughter Layla Stewart. Family members reported they had not heard from Meshay since March 11, and a friend told them Meshay and Layla had not been home for a few days and their dog was inside the apartment barking. A family member let the officer into Meshay’s apartment, which was unoccupied except for the dog.
Investigators learned that Meshay, Layla, and Meshay’s ex-boyfriend Kirkland C. Warren had stayed at the home of an acquaintance on March 11 and the three were seen leaving in a burgundy Dodge Charger on March 12 at approximately 6:00 a.m.
On March 19, Meshay’s mother located her vehicle (2000 Chrysler 200) in the 7800 block of NE Loowit Loop. Vancouver Police seized it for a search warrant.
On March 19, Vancouver Police executed a search warrant at Warren’s residence (3700 block of NE 109th Ave) and took Warren into custody. He was arrested and booked on Tampering with a Witness, Violation of DV Orders (Meshay Melendez as the listed protected person), Assault IV-DV, Drive-By Shooting and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm II.
On March 22, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding two bodies that were located in a rural area near Washougal. Vancouver Police Detectives were contacted and believe them to be Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart, based on unique identifying genetic marks. Family members of Meshay and Layla have been notified. Cause and manner of death are pending the report from the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The investigation is continuing and nothing further is releasable at this time.
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The Vancouver Police Department is requesting anyone with surveillance systems, to check their cameras in the event they captured any of the following vehicles between the dates of 3/11/23 – 3/18/23: 2021 maroon Dodge Charger license OR plate 812MWM, 1999 white Chevrolet Lumina WA license plate 3A68206, and a 2011 white Chrysler 200 WA license plate.
The Vancouver Police Department is actively following up on leads received from both the community as well as evidence recovered as part of the search warrant at the residence of Kirkland Warren following his arrest on March 19. Warren is a person of interest in the disappearance of Meshay and Layla and thus far, is the person we believe they were last with.
Warren was arrested on March 19 and booked into jail for Tampering with a Witness, Violation of DV Orders (Meshay Melendez the listed protected person), and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm II.
Please contact Sgt. Ballou at julie.ballou@cityofvancouver.us with any additional information.
*****
The Vancouver Police Department is seeking the assistance of the public in locating 27-year-old Meshay Melendez and her 7-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart. The pair was last seen in the early morning hours of March 12 in the 7700 block of Vancouver Mall Drive. A vehicle believed to belong to Meshay was located a short distance away on March 19.
Meshay is 5’9”, 185lbs with black hair and brown eyes. Layla is about 4’, 50lbs with brown hair and hazel eyes.
If you have any information about Meshay & Layla’s whereabouts, please contact Detective Givens robert.givens@cityofvancouver.us, Detective Nolan chadd.nolan@cityofvancouver.us, or call 911.
*** Update 2 ***
On March 20, 2023, at approximately 5:00 a.m., Vancouver Police detectives, with assistance from Portland Police Bureau SERT, the Vancouver Police Department Safe Streets Task Force and Vancouver Police Department Neighborhood Response Team, served a search warrant at a residence in the 10800 block of SE Stark Street in Portland and arrested Austin A. Bell, 21 years of age. Bell was wanted in connection with a March 11 murder, assault and drive-by shooting investigation that occurred in Vancouver.
Bell is currently lodged in the Multnomah County Jail awaiting extradition to Clark County to face charges of Murder I, Assault I and Drive-By Shooting.
Nothing further is releasable at this time.
*** Update ***
On March 15, 2023, at 3:20 a.m., Vancouver Police arrested Nicholas Martinell-Sterling, 28 years of age, at a residence in the 7900 block of NE Burton Rd.
Sterling was booked into the Clark County Jail for Murder I, Assault I and Drive-By Shooting.
The investigation is ongoing and nothing further is being released at this time.
***
Vancouver, Wash. – On March 11, 2023, at approximately 11:35 p.m., several males are involved in a confrontation at the Safeway located at 6701 E Mill Plain Blvd. As two of the males leave the store, the suspects fire multiple rounds at them. The victims were able to get into their vehicle and drive toward a nearby hospital. The suspects followed and fire additional rounds at the vehicle as they are nearing the hospital.
One of the victims, a 28-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The other three victims, a 42-year-old male, a 35-year-old male and a 36-year-old female also suffered gunshot wounds.
The Vancouver Police Department Major Crime Unit, Safe Streets Task Force, Neighborhood Response Team, Property Crime Unit and Traffic Unit assisted with the response. The Major Crime Unit is continuing the investigation.
Nothing further is releasable at this time.
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Vancouver, Wash. – On March 12, 2023, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to Craft Cannabis (8603 NE Andresen Rd.) for the report of a robbery. Three males entered the store, displayed weapons, robbed the store, and fled in a vehicle. The vehicle was spotted by law enforcement officers on I-205 heading northbound and was eventually stopped near Woodland. Two adult males and one juvenile male were located inside the vehicle and were taken into custody. A fourth adult male fled on foot and after a 40-minute search was located and taken into custody. The search included a K9 track and use of an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS). One suspect was armed with a firearm when he was detained, and multiple firearms were located inside the vehicle.
Malik Morant (18 years of age), Samson Alem (22 years of age), and Ahmed O. Abdi (24 years of age) were each booked into the Clark County Jail for Robbery I. A 15-year-old male was taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center for an outstanding warrant.
This incident involved Vancouver Police West and East Patrol and Vancouver Police K9 Units with assistance from multiple law enforcement partner agencies including CRESA, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Ridgefield Police Department, Longview Police Department, Woodland Police Department, Washington State Patrol and the Cowlitz District 1 Fire Department.
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Vancouver, Wash. – On March 10, 2023, Vancouver Police responded to a physical disturbance at the Robinwood Apartments (3311 E 18th Street). When officers arrived, they located a 58-year-old male unconscious in the breezeway. The male was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
The Vancouver Police Department Major Crime Unit is investigating and learned that the 58-year-old male and a female companion showed up at the apartment to retrieve some property from one of the residents in the unit. The female was let inside the apartment and shortly thereafter the male also entered, uninvited. The resident attempted to remove the male and female from his apartment and a physical altercation occurred between the three. The resident was hit and kicked in the face and head multiple times with a barstool and a cane. The fight moved outside, and the resident hit the other male knocking him down and rendering him unconscious. It appears that some the parties involved were known to one another.
The investigation is continuing and nothing additional is releasable at this time.
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Vancouver, Wash. – On February 26, 2023, Vancouver Police responded to four convenience store robberies within a one-hour period.
The Vancouver Police Department Major Crime Unit is investigating these incidents. On March 8, Detectives from the Major Crime Unit, with assistance from the Clark Regional SWAT team and Safe Streets Task Force, served a search warrant at a residence in the 5300 block of NE 66th Street. Multiple items of evidence were recovered, including a stolen handgun. A 16-year-old male was taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Juvenile Justice Center for Robbery I (x3), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Taking a Vehicle Without Permission.
Anyone with information related to any of these robberies, or any witnesses who have not spoken to police, are encouraged to contact Vancouver Police Detective Rodrigo Osorio at (360) 487-7355.
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Vancouver, Wash. – On March 7, 2023, a robbery occurred at the Plato’s Closet (8101 NE Parkway Dr.). Detectives are attempting to identify the pictured female who is believed to be associated with a grey SUV which was seen fleeing from the area.
Anyone with information on the identity of the female, or who may have information related to this incident, is asked to contact Corporal Neil Martin at neil.martin@cityofvancouver.us or (360) 487-7423.
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On March 5, 2023, missing person Kaylee “Kade” McPhilips was located. Her family has been notified.
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Photographs added.
The Vancouver Police Department is requesting the help of the public in locating a missing / endangered juvenile who walked away from their home.
Missing: Kaylee (Kade) Joyce McPhillips (12 years old) 5'2", 110 lbs, with pink / blonde hair, hazel eyes. She was last seen on the Evergreen High School campus today (March 3rd) around 1530 hours and was wearing a black coat, white long sleeve shirt, pink sweatpants, and black shoes.
If located, please contact local law enforcement.
Ana Lizbeth Rojoas Rangel returned home on her own accord.
The Vancouver Police Department and the Hubbard Police Department are asking for the public’s help in locating 15-year-old Ana Lizbeth Rojas Rangel. Ana was last seen on February 25, 2023, when she left her residence in Hubbard, heading to Bend, OR. The last communication family had with Ana was on February 27, 2023, at about 7 pm. Detectives believe Ana is endangered and is at risk of harm.
The Hubbard Police Department obtained information to believe Ana has been or is in the Vancouver area. Ana might be in the company of an unidentified adult male in his 20’s who is associated with a 2019 or newer black Dodge Charger. Ana is 5’3, 110lbs with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a teal maxi dress with a denim jacket and brown boots.
If you have any information on Ana’s whereabouts, please call 911 or the on-duty officer at the Hubbard Police Department at 503-982-2340.
*** Update ***
The vehicle used in these incidents was located, unoccupied. It has been returned to the owner.
The Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit is continuing the investigation. Anyone with information related to any of these incidents is asked to contact Vancouver Police Detective Rodrigo Osorio at (360) 487-7391.
No further information is available.
***
2-3 suspects, undescriptive males, driving a stolen Burgendy or dark colored KIA Optima with WA license plates BDK5599, armed with a silver handgun, committed Robbery at 2 7-Elevens and 2 Chevron gas stations between 0630 and 0730 this morning on the East side of Vancouver WA. In the order of reported robberies, 7-eleven Mill Plain Blvd and NE 97th Avenue, 7-eleven at NE 136th Avenue and NE 4th Street, Chevron gas station at SE 162nd Avenue and SE 26th Street and Chevron gas station at NE 162nd Ave and NE 18th Street. In all incidents cash register money was taken and one incident money in a safe. Vancouver Police are seeking the public's help in locating the vehicle used and identifying the suspects. If the vehicle is located, please do not approach and call 911 immediately. The suspects are considered armed and dangerous.