Law enforcement arrested an Oregon man wanted for crimes in multiple states, including in Woodland and Cowlitz County after a lengthy search and standoff in Kalama on Feb. 26.
Shortly after midnight on Feb. 26, Cowlitz 911 received a report of a prowler near Reed’s Automotive in Woodland. Woodland Police did not locate the suspect, a release by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) stated. Surveillance video showed the suspect was driving a Suzuki Sidekick, similar to a vehicle associated with a wanted subject, Jacob Dean Smart, of Astoria, Oregon, the release added.
Law enforcement identified Smart as a suspect in multiple crimes in Oregon, Washington and Idaho and was wanted on active warrants at the time of his arrest. Smart was also identified as a person of interest in a recent home invasion burglary investigated by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, the release stated.
Later, a Kalama Police officer located the Sidekick parked behind the Rebel Truck Stop in Kalama at about 12:41 a.m. According to a press release, a male suspect fled on foot from the vehicle. CCSO contained the area with assistance from other local agencies.
During the search, Cowlitz 911 received what appeared to be an accidental call from a phone number associated with Smart, reports state. GPS data from that call placed the phone in the area of River Ridge Road, near the Rebel Truck Stop. A reverse-911 call was placed to homes in the area notifying residents about the search, the release added.
Lower Columbia SWAT responded to assist, and K9 units tracked the suspect with assistance from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) but did not locate the suspect. The Sheriff’s Office posted information to its Facebook page with information about Smart, including his picture and a picture believed to be Smart with a bald head and long beard and wearing a mask, the release stated.
At 6:31 a.m, a person reported seeing a subject matching Smart’s description running across Interstate 5 toward the railroad in the area of Todd Road in Kalama. Deputies and officers from local police departments responded to the area after the report. A Longview Police Department UAS operator observed the suspect going through the Temco property off Hendrickson Road in the Port of Kalama, the release stated.
As law enforcement contained the area, a black Mitsubishi sedan was observed fleeing Temco at a high rate of speed. Deputies successfully blocked the vehicle’s exit, but the suspect fled on foot and climbed a fence as he escaped. He was then seen entering the Arxada Kalama Plant through an open bay door. Officers evacuated the employees from inside the building and contained the plant, the release stated.
SWAT, assisted by the Crisis Negotiation Team, responded to the scene, and officers told Smart he was under arrest and ordered him to exit the building, but he did not comply. After 8 a.m., dispatch received a 911 call from a person, later identified as Smart, reporting that he was at a gas station, allegedly armed with a gun and was going to kill officers.
CNT negotiators reached Smart on his phone, during which Smart threatened to shoot officers as well as vehicles driving through the area, according to the release. Smart allegedly made numerous threats and told negotiators he would not be taken alive, law enforcement said.
SWAT utilized UAS drones and a remote controlled robot to clear large portions of the Arxada building and contained Smart to the office portion of the building. A K-9 team and chemical agents were deployed to take Smart into custody, the release added.
He was treated for minor injuries and booked into Cowlitz County Jail on outstanding warrants.
“Detectives with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office are investigating Smart for multiple other crimes and anticipate filing additional charges against Smart for crimes committed in Cowlitz County,” the release stated.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office requests anyone with information about these incidents to contact detectives at 360-577-3092.
