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On November 20th, at around 9:30 a.m., the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team executed a search warrant at a home in Battle Ground, WA, in connection with a bank robbery investigation. Clark County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) investigators, along with assistance from the Vancouver Police Department and Portland Police Bureau, arrested two people believed to be involved in more than ten bank robberies in Washington and Oregon. 

Detectives arrested Andrew Bekman (31) and Amira Askew (28) for First-Degree Robbery. Investigators believe Bekman and Askew robbed the Umpqua Bank in Salmon Creek on November 6th and suspect their involvement in other bank robberies in the Vancouver/Portland metro area dating back to June of 2024.

At the scene of the search warrant executed on November 20th, detectives seized clothing matching those worn during multiple robberies, as well as firearms, ballistic vests, and stolen vehicles. Detectives also recovered a note with the words, "This is a robbery. I have a gun. Empty your till."

Background on the Umpqua Bank robbery:

On November 6th, deputies responded to a robbery at the Umpqua Bank in Salmon Creek just before 5 p.m. A teller reported that a male and female wearing masks had just robbed them. The male implied he had a gun, and the suspects left the bank with an unknown amount of cash.

Patrol deputies, detectives, and CCSO's Tactical Detective Unit (TDU) worked together to collect video and other evidence from the scene. CCSO then asked for the community's assistance in identifying the suspects. A tip from a member of the public helped identify both suspects and led TDU to their house in Battle Ground. Following their arrests, Bekman and Askew confessed to the Umpqua Bank robbery, along with several others.   

CCSO would like to thank the public for providing crucial information that led to the apprehension of these suspects. We would also like to thank the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team, the Vancouver Police Department, and the Portland Police Bureau for their partnership and assistance. 

The Smurfit Westrock paper mill in Longview “likely contributed” to the mysterious odor that wafted through southwest Washington and northwest Oregon in September, the Washington State Department of Ecology has determined.

But there might be more contributors — the agency can’t say for sure that the mill was the sole source of the odor that triggered a slew of complaints and speculation Sept. 24 and into the following day.

The odor drew widespread consternation and curiosity, not only because it was unpleasant, but also because it had no clear or obvious source. Days later, scientists said Mount St. Helens wasn’t the source and, about two weeks later, officials said the odor came from Longview, but wouldn’t say what the specific source was.

On Sept. 24, the Smurfit Westrock paper mill vented a gas stream containing chemicals that cause odors, the mill told officials, as required by its permit, the Department of Ecology said in a statement Wednesday. The amount the mill vented was allowed by the permit, the department said.

“Ecology’s investigation identified that the WestRock Facility in Longview likely contributed to the odor,” the agency wrote. “However, based on the data, we can’t conclude if this venting was responsible for all of the odor complaints across the region on Sept. 24.”

To reach its conclusion, the agency analyzed weather data, odor complaints, WestRock gas-venting data and other emissions data, and conditions at the WestRock mill as well as at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill, also in Longview.

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