CCSO completes investigation of suspected suicide, allegations of sex abuse involving a juvenile

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has completed two investigations involving the April death of Charles Gardiner and allegations of sex offenses against a juvenile.

The death investigation of Charles Gardiner has been determined to be consistent with suicide; there is no evidence of foul play

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has concluded its investigations related to a suspected suicide incident that took place April 23, 2025.

The death investigation of Charles Gardiner has been determined to be consistent with suicide. There is no evidence of foul play.

A separate investigation into allegations of sex offenses involving a juvenile found probable cause that Gardiner committed the crimes of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the First Degree, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Possession of Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Investigators believe the inappropriate relationship had been ongoing for approximately six to nine months.

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest there are additional victims.

Due to Gardiner’s death, the case is being closed by exceptional clearance. To protect the privacy and well-being of the juvenile victim, no further details will be released.

Background

On April 23, at around 9:43 p.m., CCSO deputies responded to a report of an occupied

residential burglary in the 9000 block of NE 79^th Street in Northeast Vancouver. The caller reported a male subject inside the residence. The male subject fled the residence on foot.

As deputies and other law enforcement officers searched the area, they located a vehicle with a deceased person inside matching the subject’s description. Evidence suggests the individual died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In the initial report, it was believed that deputies responded to a residential burglary. The caller had discovered Gardiner in the residence and got into a physical altercation with him before he fled. There is no indication that there was a residential burglary. The Sheriff’s Office split the incident into two investigations, the death investigation and a criminal investigation. The Sheriff’s Office opened a criminal investigation into several sex offenses believed to have been committed by Gardiner against a juvenile victim.

On April 25, the CCSO confirmed that the deceased person was Gardiner, the Interim Chief of the Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Department.

Information provided by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.