Washougal man arrested for unsafe gun storage

Camas police have referred an 11-year-old boy to Clark County’s juvenile prosecuting attorney following an incident involving “multiple firearms and a knife” outside Skyridge Middle School Tuesday, Sept. 24.

According to the Camas Police Department, officers responded to the middle school at 8:10 p.m. Sept. 24, for a report involving the brandishing of a gun. Dispatch advised officers that sixth-graders were involved in the incident, but that all weapons had since been “secured in a truck.”

Police said the incident happened on the Skyridge campus, located at 5320 N.W. Parker St., in Camas, following a county football league practice, but “was not directly related to Skyridge Middle School activities.”

“Preliminary information gathered at the scene indicated multiple firearms and a knife were reported to be involved,” Camas police stated in a new release. “ An 11-year-old was reported to have been in possession of each of those weapons at various times during this encounter.”

Officers secured two firearms at the scene and said the adult responsible for the firearms was cooperating with the investigation. Police arrested Kurt Hall, 50, of Washougal, and cited him for second-degree community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm.

Police also referred the 11-year-old to the juvenile prosecuting attorney for possible charges.

“We are greatly relieved no injuries were sustained as a result of this incident,” Camas Police Chief Tina Jones stated in the news release. “At this time, there is no indication of an ongoing public safety risk related to this event. This remains an ongoing investigation, and we are working closely with the Camas School District administration with a focus on school and community safety.”

As of this newspaper’s print deadline, the case was still considered an open investigation and police reports were not yet available.