Interim Cowlitz Tribal Police Chief killed self, committed multiple sex offenses, investigators say

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Clark County Sheriff's Office announced they've concluded their investigation into the apparent suicide of Interim Cowlitz Tribal Police Chief Charles Gardiner last month.

Officials said the death investigation determined Gardiner's cause of death was suicide, with no evidence of foul play found.

In addition, Gardiner was accused of sexually abusing a minor. The Clark County Sheriff's Office also investigated this matter, finding that Gardiner likely committed a number of sex offenses with a minor.

"A separate investigation into allegations of sex offenses involving a juvenile found probable cause that Charles Gardiner committed the crimes of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the First Degree, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Possession of Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Investigators believe the inappropriate relationship had been ongoing for approximately six to nine months," the Clark County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

The sheriff's office added they found no evidence suggesting there are additional victims.

On April 23, Gardiner was found dead in Vancouver. The Clark County Sheriff's Office said he was found after an incident that was initially investigated as a home burglary. However, the sheriff's office later made the update that it wasn't a burglary and that Gardiner was accused of sexually abusing a minor.