07/02/2025
Over the past two months, areas within Skamania County have experienced several residential and commercial burglaries. Although some remain unsolved, several investigations have resulted in arrests.
During the months of May and June, several commercial buildings were burglarized in the Hemlock/Stabler area. Despite exhaustive efforts to identify the suspect/suspects responsible for the crimes, including partnering with U.S. Forest Service investigators, these incidents remain unsolved, but investigatory efforts have continued.
During the first week of June, several Stevenson businesses were burglarized, including Gotta Hava Java and Clark and Lewie’s. Due to the outstanding investigatory efforts made by Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brandon Van Pelt, the suspect was apprehended and charged with 15 different crimes, including Burglary, Theft, and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.
On 06/16, a commercial burglary was reported on the west end of Skamania County. Numerous items were taken, including a vehicle. The suspects have preliminarily been identified, arrested, and tied to a ring of similar crimes that span across Washington and Oregon. This case is still under investigation and limited details are available for dissemination at this time.
Lastly, on 07/01, a residential burglary was reported near Swift Reservoir in northern Skamania County. Due to Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant R. Taylor’s quick response, one suspect was immediately apprehended in the general vicinity of the incident. However, two other suspects remained at large. Several hours later, an observant neighbor located the suspects walking westbound on the U.S. Forest Service 90 Road. Sergeant Taylor and Deputy B. Kioroglo returned to the area, apprehending the other two suspects and collecting all the stolen property taken from the incident. If you have any information regarding the Stabler/Hemlock burglaries that would assist in our investigations, please call 509-427-9490 Ext. 0.