Deceased individual in Jan. 9 incident identified as 45-year-old Luis A. Ku Huitzil
The team of Vancouver Police Department officers involved in the Jan. 9 incident that resulted in the death of 45-year-old Luis A. Ku Huitzil have been identified.
The Clark County Regional Independent Investigation Team is identifying the involved officers as the following:
• Officer Monica Hernandez, 42, was hired by the Vancouver Police Department in December 2009. Prior to working for VPD, Officer Hernandez was a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department from July 2002- September 2008. From September 2010- July 2011 Officer Hernandez worked for the Camas Police Department. She was re-hired by the Vancouver Police Department in July 2011. Officer Hernandez has held assignments with the Vancouver Police Department as a detective in the Children’s Justice Center and is currently assigned to East Graveyard Patrol.
• Officer Timothy Pfeifer, 41, was hired by the Vancouver Police Department in November 2011. Prior to working for VPD, Officer Pfeifer was a reserve officer for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office from January 2010-November 2011. Officer Pfeifer is currently assigned to East Graveyard Patrol.
• Officer Christopher Bohatch, 37, was hired by the Vancouver Police Department in August 2016. He is currently assigned to East Swing Patrol.
Officer Ryne Briley, 32, was hired by the Vancouver Police Department in February 2017. Officer Briley has held assignments with the Vancouver Police Department in the East Neighborhood Response Team. He is currently assigned to East Swing Patrol.
On Jan. 9 at about 12:25 a.m., Vancouver Police responded to a call of a disturbance with a weapon at a residence in the 13200 block of NE 59th Street. The resident reported there was a male acquaintance inside the home who was armed with knives.
The caller and several other individuals, including two children, had locked themselves inside their bedrooms and called 9-1-1. It was believed the suspect had started a fire inside the home. When police arrived, the individuals inside the home were able to safely escape through windows. Police did smell something burning.
The suspect was outside the home and confronted officers with a knife. Officers attempted to deescalate the situation by deploying a Less Lethal 40 mm device, but the officers had to deploy their firearms to stop the suspect from harming anyone. The suspect was transported to an area hospital but did not survive.
This investigation is ongoing.
No further information at this time.
Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
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