
David Ryel was unarmed at the time of his arrest and was booked for Attempted Kidnapping 1st degree and Felony Harassment
A man who told his victim he was “homeless and hungry’’ was arrested Saturday in an attempted kidnapping incident.
On Saturday (Oct. 29) at about 5:50 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a robbery call at the Fred Meyer store in Hazel Dell. An elderly female customer called 9-1-1 to report a homeless male had gotten into the backseat of her car while she was seated in the driver’s seat, threatened her with a gun, then fled on foot.
Deputies arrived in the area checking for the suspect and one contacted the victim. She reported the male told her “I have a gun to your head. Just drive or I’ll shoot you in the head.” She told the male to get out of her car several times. The male apologized saying he was “homeless and hungry” then got out of her car and ran away.
The suspect was not located in the immediate area however a person matching the description was stopped and detained several blocks away. The female was able to provide a positive identification of the suspect.
David Ryel was unarmed at the time of his arrest and was booked for Attempted Kidnapping 1st degree and Felony Harassment.
Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Also read:
- Opinion: A year in review of news stories from a former sports guyClark County Today reporter Paul Valencia reflects on his evolving role, revisiting major news, community debates, sports moments, and human-interest stories that shaped Clark County in 2025.
- Names released of person killed and Vancouver officers involved in deadly force incidentState investigators have released the names of the Vancouver police officers involved in a deadly force incident, and the Clark County Medical Examiner has identified the man who was killed as 44-year-old Perry J. Sellars of Vancouver.
- These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1Several new laws and tax increases passed in 2025 take effect Jan. 1 in Washington, impacting unemployment benefits, business taxes, transportation fees, consumer costs and regulatory requirements.
- Opinion: Ready for another pay decrease from the state? It happens Jan. 1Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues that Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll tax increase will further reduce workers’ take-home pay beginning Jan. 1.
- Vancouver rolls out new all-access community center membershipThe city of Vancouver is launching a new all-access membership in January that allows residents to use both Firstenburg and Marshall community centers.
- Four Western WA counties granted $6.6M in federal funds for road safety programsFour Western Washington counties will receive $6.6 million in federal funding for road safety projects, including an EMS pilot program in Clark County.
- Opinion: Justice for none – Court hands down a mandate without a dime to fund itNancy Churchill argues that a Washington Supreme Court ruling on public defense imposes costly mandates on local governments without providing funding to implement them.








