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Washington County authorities are searching for a man suspected of breaking into an apartment in the King City community early Saturday morning.

(The Oregonian/OregonLive/file)

Louis Jarvis Jr.

A King City community woman fired a bullet from a handgun at a man attempting to break into her apartment early Saturday morning and the man fled, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said.

Sheriff's deputies were searching Saturday for the man, who is believed to be Louis Jarvis Jr., 40. A sheriff's news release says Jarvis is involved in a child custody dispute with the woman, who lives in an apartment complex at 12070 S.W. Fischer Road. Jarvis has never lived at the apartment, the release says.

Deputies, called to the apartment shortly after 2 a.m., found the front door had been kicked in.

The woman told deputies the man left after she fired a gunshot .

Deputies also found three windows of the woman's vehicle had been smashed.

Jarvis was believed to be driving a gray or tan late model Chevrolet pickup.

--Allan Brettman

503-294-5900

@allanbrettman