Disturbance with a weapon leads to Camas council member’s arrest and recovery of firearm

Washougal River Greenway Trail Pedestrian Bridge. Photo courtesy city of Camas
Washougal River Greenway Trail Pedestrian Bridge. Photo courtesy city of Camas

On Friday, detectives contacted and arrested John Vincent Svilarich for misdemeanor crimes of Reckless Endangerment and Aiming/Discharging a Firearm

On Friday (Sept. 13), Camas Police Department detectives contacted and arrested John Vincent Svilarich for misdemeanor crimes of Reckless Endangerment and Aiming/Discharging a Firearm. Svilarich is a member of the Camas City Council.

John Svilarich
John Svilarich

On Aug. 31 at about 7:52 a.m., the Camas Police Department responded to a disturbance involving a firearm along the Washougal River Greenway in the city of Camas. 

The disturbance began as a verbal argument between a fisherman along the river, and a pedestrian who was walking along the greenway trail and over the pedestrian footbridge. The argument escalated to the point where an 8-inch rock was thrown from the bridge and down towards the fisherman below. The altercation continued along the walking path and the pedestrian brandished a handgun and aimed it towards the fisherman. 

The involved parties and witnesses were interviewed by officers on the day of the incident. The pedestrian with the handgun was identified as 66-year-old John Vincent Svilarich. Follow up investigation of the incident was later conducted by Camas Police detectives. On Friday (Sept. 13) detectives contacted and arrested Svilarich for misdemeanor crimes of Reckless Endangerment and Aiming/Discharging a Firearm. He was processed at the Camas Police Department and released.  The handgun used in the incident was surrendered to detectives.  

Information provided by Camas Police Department. 


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5 Comments

  1. John Jenkins

    What was he thinking. For some reason he reached a boil over moment and made a bad decision. Glad no one was hurt…more importantly find out what really set him off. Something else triggered his outburst. Anger Management is a beginning plus banning him from firearms until he can pass a heavy physc eval.

    Reply
  2. John Watson

    What is wrong with society? A grown man, throwing a 8 lb rock from a bridge and then threatening someone with a gun. No wonder there is so much violence in the US today. What an example for our children and others. This man does not belong on the City Council or is that what Camas citizens want?

    Reply
  3. Dave Roberts

    Excuse me isn’t the use of an 8″ rock thrown at someone Assault. Why wasn’t he charged with Assault. Or “City Councilman” means special treatment???

    Reply

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