Off-duty officer killed at his Battle Ground home by sheriff’s deputy

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An off-duty Vancouver police officer was shot and killed by a Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Saturday, Jan. 29 after an armed robbery suspect tried to get into the officer’s Battle Ground home.

At around 8:14 p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a Chevron on Northeast 117th Avenue in Vancouver following a report of an armed robbery, according to a news release from the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team. The caller reported a man had pointed a firearm at the clerk’s chest and demanded money.

The suspect then fled the scene in a stolen dark-colored Mercedes passenger car with several hundred dollars, stated the release. The suspect was intercepted by police traveling northbound on Interstate 205 about 12 minutes later, but eluded law enforcement. The armed robbery suspect eventually exited Interstate 5 toward Battle Ground where officers deployed spike strips and immobilized the vehicle. The suspect then fled on foot. 

As officers worked to locate the suspect, a resident in the Battle Ground area called 911 to report a man, who matched the description of the robbery suspect, was pounding on her family’s front door as he asked for assistance and said he had been involved in a collision, the release stated.

The woman told dispatch her husband was an off-duty Vancouver police officer who was armed and said he exited their home to attempt to detain the suspect for responding officers. The news release stated the suspect began to fight the off-duty officer, who was later identified as 52-year-old Donald Sahota, as his wife stayed on the phone with dispatch.

Sahota reportedly lost control of his firearm and suffered several stab wounds during the struggle as the suspect broke free and ran toward the officer’s residence, stated the release. 

Sahota was able to recover his firearm and ran after the suspect. 

“Within seconds of responding law enforcement officers arriving on scene, one Clark County Deputy sheriff fired several rounds from a rifle striking the off-duty officer,” stated the release.

Sahota collapsed on his front porch before officers were able to determine he was the homeowner and not the robbery suspect, stated the release. Officers provided emergency trauma care to Sahota but they were unable to stabilize him. 



Sahota’s official cause of death has not been determined, stated the release.

The suspect surrendered to police moments after Sahota was shot and taken into custody without incident, stated the release. 

The investigation of the use of force by the Clark County deputy sheriff is being investigated by the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, in accordance with the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act. 

Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle said she is “heartbroken” by the loss of Sahota.

“My thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those he served with,” McEnerny-Ogle said in a statement.

Sahota joined the Vancouver Police Department in 2014. Prior to that, he was a police officer for the Gresham Police Department and the Port of Portland Police Department. 

During his time with the Vancouver Police Department, Sahota worked in patrol, served as an emergency vehicle operations instructor and an armorer. He was most recently assigned to the training unit.

Sahota leaves behind a wife and two children. 

“My heart goes out to Officer Sahota’s family and friends and those of us in his VPD family as well,” said Vancouver Police Chief James McElvain in a release. “His death is a tragic loss and he will be deeply missed by many.”