Two inmates set fire to items within their unit
The inmates continued to act belligerent toward the staff and at approximately 12:45 p.m., two inmates set fire to items within their unit. The fire filled the unit with smoke and corrections deputies were able to put out the flames and safely clear the unit. The fire resulted in minor property damage and no inmates or corrections deputies were injured.
Corrections deputies requested assistance from enforcement deputies with the investigation. Corrections deputies identified several suspects and collected evidence. The city of Vancouver Fire Marshal conducted the cause and origin investigation, and enforcement deputies interviewed several persons.
At the conclusion of the initial investigation, Michael C. Dempsey and David N. Trachuk were charged with one count each of Arson in the First Degree. Dempsey and Trachuk are in the Clark County Jail on unrelated charges. Their arraignment on the new charges will be determined by the Clark County prosecuting attorney.
This is an open investigation and charges for other inmates are potentially forthcoming.
There will be no further comment on the investigation.
Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Also read:
- Opinion: Were Republican voters just sleeping during the August primary election?
CCRP Chairman Matt Bumala says 60% of primary no-shows in the 17th and 18th districts were Republicans. - High school football: New coach prepares for long-term success at Prairie High School
James Young-Lewis, a Clark County native who graduated from Evergreen in 2009, became Prairie’s head coach in May after working as an assistant coach across various programs since 2015, joining Prairie’s staff in 2024. - Cost to battle 20 wildfires in WA has topped $200M
Twenty wildfires have cost Washington $207M in one month, more than two-thirds of what DNR spent all last fiscal year. - Opinion: WA Cares’ launch showcased care WA Cares did not provide
Gov. Ferguson showcased a caregiving arrangement at the WA Cares launch that the program had not paid for a single day of. - Former State Rep. Liz Pike provides update on husband Neil Cahoon
Neil Cahoon, a Camas resident, has undergone multiple surgeries including five on Aug. 15 after the Aug. 10 crash near La Center’s Daybreak Airport. - Opinion: Portland’s War on Cars Part 4 – A smarter automobile strategy to end gridlock
O’Toole argues fuel wasted in Portland-area congestion has sextupled since 1982, generating 250,000 tons of extra greenhouse gases annually. - $1,000 first prize for Camas Plein Air Art Event honoring Marquita Call on Sept. 26
Plein air artists compete Sept. 26 in Camas for $1,000 first prize honoring gallery founder Marquita Call.
