VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) — Two men were arrested Saturday after fleeing the scene of a burglary before one of the men allegedly fired shots at a Vancouver police vehicle during a car chase.
The robbery took place at Kohl’s (9312 NE 5th Ave.) just after 5:30 p.m. According to court documents, the two suspects, later identified as Joshua T. Young and Rashawn L. Anderson, stole shoes and clothing from the store. When confronted by an employee, Young threatened to pull out a gun.
Young and Anderson allegedly fled from the store in a stolen vehicle and drove onto I-5, heading southbound. Officers from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Vancouver Police Department pursued the vehicle as the two men continued into city limits.
According to a Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy, one of the men, who is believed to be Young, fired two rounds at his police vehicle before losing control of the car and crashing into a pole in the area of E 33rd St. and Watson Ave. The deputy was not injured in the shooting.
“(I) started hearing sirens then heard a loud bang and crash, jumped up, opened the door, saw a pickup against the telephone pole. I counted 23 cop cars,” said witness Dave Smith. “It was an absolutely crazy situation.”
Court documents say that Young was driving through red lights, driving through stop signs without stopping and driving at speeds up to 130 mph. Another passenger that was in the vehicle with Young and Anderson, later identified as Megan C. Eveland, said that Young began shooting at the cop that was chasing them. Young, however, denied firing a gun.
Young and Anderson were arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and eluding officers. Anderson was additionally charged with first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Young’s bail was set at $350,000. He is set to appear in court again on April 1.
The shooting, robbery and pursuit are all still under investigation. Both Young and Anderson have been convicted of numerous previous felonies.