Vancouver Police report indicates more than 50 protesters gathered in Vancouver Sunday
VANCOUVER – One man was arrested Sunday when a protest over the officer-involved shooting of 21-year-old Kevin Peterson Jr. took place in Vancouver.
According to a Vancouver Police Department news release, a protest involving approximately 50 individuals gathered in downtown Vancouver Sunday. The protest later attracted approximately 25 counter-protestors who also gathered.
Reports indicated that many of the protesters and counterprotesters were exercising their open carry rights. The presence of the weapons added to the tension of the conflict, which reportedly started at the residence of Jeremy Brown, one of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies involved in the officer-involved shooting death of Peterson on Oct. 29.
The events resulted in one arrest, 38-year-old James E. DeBacqua, address unknown, was arrested for Assault IV and Felony Harassment and booked into the Clark County Jail.
The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team and the Southwest Washington Independent Investigations Response Team has completed its investigation of the shooting that claimed the life of Peterson Jr.
The results of the independent investigation has produced a video summary of the incident released Wednesday. The video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/0bP6kf5CbTk.
At this point in the investigation, the team has forwarded the case file to the prosecuting attorney for review. Additional reports, such as lab reports and the medical examiner’s report are still pending, and will be submitted to the prosecutor as supplemental reports when they are received.
At the request of Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik, this case will now be reviewed by the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office.
Information provided by Vancouver Police Department.
