Search for Cop Shooter in Washington Heats Up, State Trooper Improves

(LONG BEACH, Wash.) - Washington State troopers are continuing their search for witnesses to the shooting of one of their own. It happened early this morning in the coastal community of Long Beach.

Courtesy: john98225.com

Anyone who witnessed or has information about the shooting is urged to call the state patrol tip line at 1-800-283-7808.

The shooting happened just before 1:00 a.m. along State Route 103 near 12th Street, as Trooper Scott Johnson was inventorying the contents of a vehicle about to be towed, Trooper Krista Hedstrom with Washington State Patrol said.

"A subject walked up, and there was a short verbal exchange between the subject, Johnson and the tow truck driver. The assailant then pulled a small caliber handgun and fired twice."

"He was able to return fire at the fleeing suspect but it is unknown if the suspect was hit. Johnson was first transported to Ocean Beach Hospital in Long Beach, and then transferred by ground ambulance to Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland."

Johnson is a 25-year veteran of the state patrol. He was assigned to the Pacific County area upon graduation from the academy in 1984 and has worked the area his entire career.

Washington State Patrol has released an artist’s sketch of the Long Beach trooper shooting suspect.

The description of the suspect has been updated. Police say he is a white male, 35-40 years old with light tan complexion. He is 5'10" to 5'11" tall, weighing about 185 - 200 pounds. He was wearing a dark colored insulated shirt and possibly a knit cap.

Police say it is unknown if the subject was wounded by Johnson’s return gunfire.

As stated, the original incident occurred shortly before 1:00 a.m. Saturday, along State Route 103 near 12th Street, as Johnson was inventorying the contents of a vehicle about to be towed.

A subject walked up and shot Johnson after a short conversation, after Johnson had turned around. The assailant then pulled a small caliber handgun and fired twice.

Troopers in Washington say a $26,000 reward is offered for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for shooting Washington State Trooper Scott Johnson in Long Beach.

The Washington State Troopers Association is offering $25,000 and Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the shooter’s arrest and conviction.

Law enforcement investigators say they are continuing to seek tips in the case and have established a tip line at 1-800-283-7808.

A press release states that, "All calls are being immediately checked out and followed up on by detectives."

"The Washington State Patrol has established a number to handle a surprising number of calls from Oregon that the 800-number previously publicized did not connect outside the state of Washington," Lt. Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police reports.

Many of the leads were developed based on tips from the public. While none has led detectives to the shooter, WSP Captain Steve Sutton is confident the right information will eventually be forthcoming. "Some of the leads we're following are based on a combination of two tips received in different calls," Sutton said. "People should not hesitate to call with information, even if they think it's minor or irrelevant. Paired with information from other calls, that minor tidbit could be the case-breaker."

WSP has been surprised at the number of tips coming in from Oregon, and learned overnight that the 800-number previously publicized does not connect outside the state of Washington. WSP has established a regular ten-digit number for calls from out-of-state. The number is 1-360-405-6650. WSP is also working to expand the coverage area of the existing 800-line.

"If you live in Oregon and tried to call in a tip, please try again at our new number. We very much want to hear from you," Sutton said.

“I am troubled that we’ve had yet another police officer ambushed while performing what should have been a simple law enforcement task,” Batiste said.

“I’m exceptionally thankful that Trooper Johnson is doing well, and very grateful for the assistance we’ve received from the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office and police agencies in both Washington and Oregon.”

The Washington State Patrol is pleased to report that the condition of Trooper Scott Johnson has continued to improve today, after being shot in the head in Long Beach earlier this morning.

“I am incredibly relieved to see Scott doing so well,” said WSP Chief John Batiste. “Despite having been shot in the head, he was laughing and joking with those around him. His behavior today sets a new standard for professionalism and heroism.”

“I know that local citizens are outraged at the ambush of a police officer who has served them so well for so long. We have every confidence that we’ll get the tip we need to solve this case,” Batiste said.

One person of interest was contacted this morning, but was quickly cleared by investigators.

Johnson, a 25-year veteran of the state patrol, was assigned to the Pacific County area upon graduation from the academy in 1984 and has worked the area his entire career.

The driver of the vehicle being towed had been arrested by another trooper for driving while impaired. She had been taken to a nearby police station for processing at the time of the shooting. There is currently no evidence to indicate the DUI arrest and the shooting are related.

The search for the suspect continues. Anyone who has information about the shooting should not contact the subject but should call 1-800-283-7808.

Special thanks to Washington State Police and Oregon State Police for information in this report.

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Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines. Tim holds numerous awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), first place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com