Clinton Street road-rager now faces attempted murder charge

visit to SE Clinton -3

The stretch of SE Clinton where
the collision occurred.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Back in August, I reported on a disturbing road-rage case where Johnny Eschweiler intentionally ran down Ben Ramsdell while he rode his bike on Clinton Street in Southeast Portland (Eschweiler also ended up colliding with a second person on a bike, Timothy Mastne).

The collision caused very serious injuries and the Multnomah County DA’s office initially charged Eschweiler with second-degree assault and first-degree attempted assault.

Eschweiler pled not guilty to all charges and was later released on bail.

Now, the Oregonian has reported that Eschweiler was re-indicted on Tuesday. The Oregonian says Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden presented new evidence to the grand jury — including the fact that Ramsdell has suffered permanent injuries — and they were successful in seeking tougher charges.

Because of the DA’s office, Eschweiler now faces two counts of attempted murder (in addition to first, second and third-degree assault charges).

The trial is set for mid-June.

===

More on this story

— For background, read all 12 articles on this story in the BikePortland.org archives.
— For details on this latest development, read the Oregonian’s coverage.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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baheuh
baheuh
15 years ago

good..make an example out of this guy and make the media get out the message that running cyclists over is not without impunity.

sorry…its callous…but it needs to happen.

brewcaster
15 years ago

Running someone over with a vehicle is serious shit. I hope he lives in jail for the rest of his life. Pick up the soap Johnny.

tonyt
tonyt
15 years ago

Now we\’re talking.

You\’re not being callous baheuh. What you\’re feeling is satisfaction. Satisfaction that FINALLY someone will face justice for their own actions.

It\’s a rare experience. Perhaps that\’s why we\’re a bit confused about how we should feel.

steve
steve
15 years ago

Awesome news.

Now we just need the local media to run with this story. Would be nice to see PPD\’s new traffic honcho issue a press release commending the DA. And warning other motorists.

If they are truly on our side, they should be vocal about it.

Jim
Jim
15 years ago

It is time that this made some headlines- we (the generic, public \”we\”) do not take this behavior seriously. If you\’ve ever had a motorist aim their vehicle at you and tried to get the police interested, you certainly know what I mean.

I am disappointed that the Oregonian buried this deep within the paper. This should have been on the front page.

chelsea
chelsea
15 years ago

i can\’t imagine how traumatic it was for the victims of his actions and i hope they are okay and still ride. i am, for once, satisfied that cyclists are not getting screwed over and brushed under the rug. justice feels so unfamiliar, yet nice.

Robert Dobbs
Robert Dobbs
15 years ago

About f\’in time!

I still maintain that if you are going to kill someone in Oregon, it\’s best that you do it with a car.

Ben
Ben
15 years ago

thanks for the support. the new DA handling this case deserves all the credit. I do hope that this case receives more attention as more starts to happen with it – what better opportunity for precedents to be set? And I haven\’t ridden a bike since – mine is looking like it\’s been though an industrial trash compactor.

Torfinn
Torfinn
15 years ago

Good luck recovering.

Hope this charge sticks.

wsbob
wsbob
15 years ago

Note that the Oregonian article states:

\”But his attorney, Des Connall, indicated his intent to pursue a \”guilty except for insanity\” defense.\”

Eschweiler being charged for crimes against vulnerable road users is progress, but he\’s a ways yet from being convicted, if he ever is.

David4130
David4130
15 years ago

Burn him at the stake!!!

Opus the Poet
15 years ago

Keep the heat on, people. Letters to the editor, blog posts (and not just here) and frequent contact with the DA\’s office will help, so long as you are respectful. Go ahead and be vitriolic about the perp, that\’s permissible, but be respectful to blog owners, editors and most especially the DA.

Opus

KTesh
KTesh
15 years ago

I\’m not for paying taxes to keep him fed/clothed/medical care while he gets to spend the rest of his life in jail.

I\’m all for giving him an ocean cruise and a pair of new shoes… made from cement.

Robin
15 years ago

Being that I live three blocks from this spot I was pretty upset for a while. I\’m really happy to know this man isn\’t behind the wheel.
Hopefully justice is served and hopefully drivers give more room when passing someone on a bike.

Thanks for keeping up on this Jonathan.

Helen Wheels
Helen Wheels
15 years ago

DDA Kirsten Snowden ROCKS! Finally JUSTICE!

Maybe.

I was hit and run and permanently injured in 2001 and still have excruciating episodes of ribs slipping out of place, neck pain, etc., so I hope Ramsdell gets justice.