Ridgefield resident arrested in Toutle Lake School investigation

On Thursday (Nov. 5), the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office arrested 47-year-old Ashlynn Smith of Ridgefield, a security guard at Toutle Lake Schools.

On Oct. 24, 2026, a deputy responded to a report from a concerned parent claiming the school's security guard was supplying vape products to students and vaping with them. Through several student/parent interviews, phone and text message records, and collaboration with the school district, the investigation found probable cause to believe that Smith confiscated a vaping device from a student, kept it in her office, and then allowed several students to use nicotine vapes while in Smith's office over a period of time.

As rumors of the activity spread throughout the school, Smith is then alleged to have told those students they would face consequences and get in trouble if they reported her to the school. She also directed those students to lie to school administrators and asked one student to write an email to the school claiming the rumors of Smith's involvement were false.

Investigators also allege Smith used the school’s student information system (Skyward), without authorization, to look up personal and family information on the involved students in an effort to intimidate or tamper with the reporting of the alleged activity.

Smith was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on charges of:

• Intimidating a Witness (2 counts)
• Tampering with a Witness (3 counts)
• Electronic Data Theft (2 counts)
• Selling or Giving Tobacco to a Minor (5 counts)

Information provided by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.