
The CCSO has confirmed that the deceased person in this incident is Charles Gardiner, the interim chief of the Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Department
On Wednesday (April 23) at about 9:43 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a report of an occupied residential burglary in the 9000 block of NE 79th 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.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the deceased person in this incident is Charles Gardiner, the interim chief of the Cowlitz Tribal Public Safety Department.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is actively investigating this case, including the circumstances of why Gardiner was in the residence.
Due to the nature of this investigation, additional details cannot be released at this time.
Additional updates will be released when more information is available.
The CCSO Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.
Information provided by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Also read:
- Letter: British Columbia’s new immersed tunnel can solve Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s $17.7 billion problemBob Ortblad argues that an immersed tunnel similar to a project underway in British Columbia could significantly reduce costs and impacts associated with the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.
- Opinion: Health care doesn’t get more ‘affordable’ by making insurance more expensiveElizabeth New (Hovde) argues that proposed legislation raising taxes and fees on insurance providers will increase health care costs rather than improve affordability.
- Opinion: Democrats refuse to condemn anti ICE riotsLars Larson argues that Democratic leaders in Oregon and Washington have enabled unrest by refusing to clearly condemn riots tied to anti-ICE protests.
- Clark College offers free dental care to children Feb. 7Clark College will provide free dental care for children ages 4–17 during its annual Free Children’s Dental Health Care Day on Feb. 7 at its Vancouver campus.
- City of Washougal seeks applicants for Planning Commission vacanciesThe city of Washougal is accepting applications to fill two Planning Commission vacancies, with a deadline of 5 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2026.
- Letter: ‘We are ALL being shafted’Amboy resident Thomas Schenk criticizes Washington lawmakers over taxation, legislative rule changes, and what he describes as the consequences of one-party control.
- Letter: Rising property values hurt our communityA Hockinson resident argues that rising property values and taxes are forcing longtime neighbors out of the community and eroding its social fabric.








