“Clackamas Man, 54, Fatally Stabbed by Deputy After DUI Arrest Sparks Violent Struggle”
The death of Marc Fogle, a 54-year-old resident of Clackamas, Oregon, has left a community grappling with questions and a family mourning a profound loss. On the night of May 7, 2025, what began as a routine traffic investigation in Vancouver, Washington, escalated into a deadly encounter, ending with Fogle’s life cut short by multiple stab wounds inflicted by a Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy. The incident, now under scrutiny by the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations, has sparked public interest and raised concerns about the use of lethal force in law enforcement encounters.
The sequence of events unfolded just before 11 p.m. on May 7, when Clark County deputies responded to a crash near Northeast 14th Court and Northeast Minnehaha Street in Vancouver. A vehicle, later identified as driven by Fogle, had collided with two parked cars. Deputies at the scene suspected Fogle was impaired, prompting a driving-under-the-influence investigation. After his arrest, Fogle was transported to the Washington State Patrol Scale House along Interstate 5 in Ridgefield, a facility equipped with a breath alcohol analyzer, as the sheriff’s office lacks its own testing equipment. The decision to conduct the test at the scale house, a common practice for the department’s westside patrol units, set the stage for the tragic outcome.
At approximately 11:33 p.m., Fogle and the deputy arrived at the scale house. Less than 30 minutes later, at 11:58 p.m., the situation deteriorated rapidly. According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the deputy, later identified as 23-year-old Bryson Layton, reported over the radio that he was engaged in a physical altercation with Fogle. Layton claimed Fogle attempted to seize his firearm, prompting the deputy to stab him multiple times. Despite immediate efforts by deputies and the arrival of a Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue ambulance, Fogle was pronounced dead at 12:39 a.m. on May 8. The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death as multiple stab wounds to the torso, ruling the manner of death a homicide.
Bryson Layton, who joined the sheriff’s office in May 2023 and serves on patrol, was uninjured in the altercation. Following standard protocol, he was placed on critical incident leave but has since returned to his patrol duties. The incident has drawn significant attention due to its violent nature and the questions it raises about de-escalation and officer training. The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations, established in 2021 to probe cases involving deadly force by law enforcement, is leading the investigation. The agency has committed to a thorough review, with a mandate to complete its work within 120 days unless an extension is justified. A tip line, 564-250-6275, has been set up for anyone with information, though all submissions are subject to Washington’s Public Records Act.
The sheriff’s office has confirmed that body-worn and in-car camera footage exists and will be reviewed, with plans for public release at a later date. This footage is expected to play a critical role in understanding the moments leading up to Fogle’s death, particularly whether the deputy’s use of force was justified. For now, the investigation remains independent, with Clark County personnel excluded to ensure impartiality. Once complete, the findings will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.
The loss of Marc Fogle has reverberated beyond the incident itself, touching on broader issues of public safety and trust in law enforcement. As the investigation unfolds, the community awaits answers, hoping for clarity and accountability in the wake of this devastating event.
