Washougal mayoral candidate Derik Ford has been arrested and charged with one count of domestic violence.
According to the Camas Police Department, officers from the Washougal Police Department went to Ford’s home on Wednesday, Sept. 15, following a report of an assault. After recognizing the Washougal business owner as one of two candidates vying to be the city’s mayor in the November general election, Washougal police asked Camas officers to take over, to avoid any conflicts of interest.
Police said Ford had left the residence before officers arrived on the scene.
Camas officers interviewed Ford’s wife, who reported that a physical altercation had occurred and that she had been assaulted by her husband. Officers noticed red marks and scratches on Ford’s wife, who initially declined medical treatment, according to a news release.
Camas officers then contacted Ford at a different location. He told officers there had been a “heated” argument but denied any physical confrontation had taken place.
“Officers noted marks on (Derik Ford) that indicated otherwise,” Camas police said. “After he was arrested, (Derik Ford) told officers (his wife) had struck him but did not want her to get into any trouble.”
The officers arrested Ford, based on “(his wife’s) statements, apparent injuries and Derik’s inconsistent statements,” according to the news release, and booked him into the Clark County jail on one count of fourth-degree domestic violence.
Ford, the owner of Washougal’s 2 Rivers Bar and Grill and several Massage Envy massage parlors, has received criticism from local residents about his controversial past, which includes being fired from an Oregon police department, sexual assault charges against his massage employees, domestic violence allegations brought against him by one of his former wives and a restraining-order violation .
Ford was one of three mayoral hopefuls running in the August primary election. He came in second place in the primary, beating out longtime Washougal City Councilman Paul Greenlee for a chance to compete against the top vote-getter, Rochelle Ramos, in the Nov. 2 general election.
This is a breaking news story. For more details, read next week’s Post-Record and visit us online at camaspostrecord.com.