Police search for person who sent explicit online messages to student

Washougal police are searching for a person who impersonated a Washougal teacher on Instagram, using a fake account to send sexually explicit messages to a Washougal High School student.

Police responded Feb. 12 to Washougal High School for a report of a sex crime after a student reported the messages, according to court records.

In a search warrant affidavit filed March 10 in Clark County Superior Court, Washougal police Detective Sugey Lopez said the person behind the fake Instagram account had claimed to be one of the student’s teachers and used that teacher’s image and name on the social media account.

The teacher did not respond to a request for comment.

Police said the teacher provided evidence proving that his real Instagram account, which has been active for several years and is linked to other verifiable social media accounts, was not the account that sent the sexually explicit messages, court records state.

Police said the person using the fake Instagram account could face charges of first-degree criminal impersonation and communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

‘No credible evidence’

Washougal School District conducted its own internal investigation and found “no credible evidence to suggest that district staff were involved in sending these messages,” said Les Brown, the district’s director of communications.

Brown said school district leaders have worked closely with Washougal police during the investigation.

According to court documents, Washougal police have requested that Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, provide access to the account’s content since Jan. 1, 2025. As of Monday, the Instagram account in question was still active.

Brown said the school district is unable to provide additional information to “protect the privacy of the individuals targeted by this malicious action” during the criminal investigation.

“The safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority. We appreciate those who notified school officials so that we could respond to the concern,” Brown said. “We strongly encourage our students, staff and community members to let us know if they see this type of behavior so we can investigate. (This) situation was reported to school leadership, who immediately notified law enforcement so they could respond.”

Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; [email protected]