Police investigate after road-rager is caught on camera

On Friday around noon a woman in the Montavilla neighborhood was the victim of road rage and now the police are investigating the incident thanks to the quick thinking of a passerby.

Jodi Cullen saw the incident unfold and had the presence of mind to pull out her phone and start recording. Cullen shared video of the alleged road rager on her Facebook page.

The incident involved a man driving a small SUV and woman riding a bicycle at the intersection of SE 76th and Yamhill. In an account of the incident shared by the woman on the bike, the man in the SUV allegedly became upset after she made a rolling stop through the intersection.

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From a message posted the Montavilla Neighborhood Association’s Facebook page, the woman who was riding the bike said the man driving the SUV was approaching the intersection after she had already passed through and, “began honking at me well before he made it to his stop sign.” Then she alleges that he got more aggressive and tried to ram her off the road while screaming at her. In the ensuing moments, the woman admits that she slap the wheel wells of the SUV several times (a fact you can hear the driver mention in the video as his rationale for becoming upset, as in, “she hit me first”).

After several attempts to run into her with his car (“he was relentless in his pursuit of me”), he allegedly tried to pin the woman against his car and a parked car. At that point she jumped onto the sidewalk. The man then continued to scream at her and called her a “slut,” she claims.

Cullen also saw the events unfold and has vouched for the woman’s story.

The woman says “This was clearly a misogynistic, violent act” and added that she has contacted the police and has already pressed charges.

Cullen says she is meeting with the police this week to share a copy of the video and give her official statement.

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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pdxfixed
8 years ago

Man, I am really getting tired of the violent attitudes that are becoming more prevalent in this town.

Spiffy
Spiffy
8 years ago
Reply to  pdxfixed

…on both sides of the cage…

Paul Wilkins
Paul Wilkins
8 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

If he was close enough to her for her to be able to slap his fender, then he’s breaking the vulnerable road user law. It’s totally apropriate for her to slap the car to get his attention at that point.

Dan
Dan
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Wilkins

I don’t believe that’s true. Can you provide a source?

El Biciclero
El Biciclero
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Wilkins

“…he’s breaking the vulnerable road user law.”

If you’re thinking of passing distance here (which is different from the so-called “vulnerable road user law”), then he probably isn’t, as there is no legally defined safe distance when speeds are under 35 mph., which seems likely here. As long as contact isn’t made between the rider or his/her bike and the car, a driver may legally run a bicyclist off the road unless there is a bike lane in which the bicyclist is riding. When the bicyclist initiates the “contact”, I don’t know what kind of legal category that falls into. It isn’t “vehicular assault”, as that is only defined as being perpetrated by the driver of a motor vehicle, not a bicyclist. I’ll bet a driver could pursue some kind of criminal mischief charge if they wanted to be really belligerent.

OrganicBrian
OrganicBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  El Biciclero

If the cyclist slaps a too-close vehicle, I’m unsure that is any crime in itself. If they don’t touch the driver, it isn’t assault. If they don’t cause any damage, it isn’t vandalism. There are considerations of reasonable efforts to safeguard personal space. Does anyone know about this as far as Oregon law? I’m not at all sure where “menacing” or some other thing would first come into play.

El Biciclero
El Biciclero
8 years ago
Reply to  OrganicBrian

It isn’t assault or vandalism to slap a car as long as no damage is done; that’s why I say “criminal mischief”, because that definition (third-degree) includes “interfering with” someone’s property, not necessarily damaging it. However, there would have to be “intent to cause substantial inconvenience” by the car-slapper, and the slapper would have to believe they had no right to slap the car, which, if the car were drifting closer to them and threatening to push them off the road or into another obstacle, they might believe they had. Only a very, very vindictive driver would attempt such a charge if their car had been slapped as a result of their bad driving threatening a bicyclist.

Of course there are those that say “if you can use your hand to slap a car, you can use it to squeeze your brake lever” and just let the offending vehicle pass on by.

Granpa
Granpa
8 years ago
Reply to  pdxfixed

A few weeks ago I was commuting home through Ladds Edition and was passed on the left in one of the small traffic calming circular islands. I was literally run off the road up into a sidewalk curb cut. Of course the perp had to stop about 200′ up the road in the line of cars waiting for the stop light. I raged at him loudly, , that he made an unsafe pass, that I was a vulnerable road user and that he was a bad driver. I never touched his car, nor did I use profanity. He stared straight ahead and never acknowledged his dangerous pass, nor did he apologize, which would have diffused the issue with me entirely. As it was, I was jittery and gobsmacked for the rest of the evening.

I don’t know how it would have played out if he wanted violence.

bjorn
bjorn
8 years ago

I would be interested to know if the guy lives in the neighborhood or if he was just cutting through neighborhood streets to avoid the lights on 82nd.

Chris I
Chris I
8 years ago
Reply to  bjorn

I don’t know anyone in that neighborhood fitting that profile with a Lexus SUV. This area is very working-class.

Dan M.
Dan M.
8 years ago
Reply to  Chris I

Tell that to my neighbor with multiple BMW X5’s.

bjorn
bjorn
8 years ago

Also a note to anyone taking video with a phone, turn that puppy 90 degrees and film in landscape mode for better results.

Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
8 years ago
Reply to  bjorn

I too am surprised how often folks new to videography forget to do this. Perhaps there is an opportunity for an app?

daisy
daisy
8 years ago
Reply to  Todd Boulanger

Eh, when you’re stressed, it can be hard to even think of something like this.

Scott H
Scott H
8 years ago
Reply to  Todd Boulanger

Apps can’t physically rotate your phone.

SilkySlim
SilkySlim
8 years ago
Reply to  bjorn

Also, ever heard of filters? Might be the only way to soften that guys tone…

q`Tzal
q`Tzal
8 years ago
Reply to  bjorn

Video evidence that offends hipster artistic sensibilities > no video evidence

PaulaF
PaulaF
8 years ago

I live in the neighborhood. Yamhill/Belmont is one of the arterials for getting over/around Mt. Tabor. At 76th it is an offset 4-way intersection. So not really cut-through. Because of the intersection, people are constantly pushing the limit of whether to stop, slow-and-go, and squeeze 2-at-a-time before cross traffic can get through there.

Some people just have a burr and are downright dangerous. Minimum time for serious anger management to be added to driving requirements.

PaulaF
PaulaF
8 years ago
Reply to  PaulaF

Here is the street view looking south. The driver would have been coming down the hill from the right.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5165556,-122.5852541,3a,61.5y,204.9h,89.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sV2VVPh7Gq8WLsz0L5sWHpA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

bjorn
bjorn
8 years ago
Reply to  PaulaF

I looked at your streetmap and said that doesn’t look like the video at all. The video is at 76th and salmon, which means he must have chased her 2 blocks before trying to hit her.

PaulaF
PaulaF
8 years ago
Reply to  bjorn

Yep, that is part of the issue, he did chase her a ways.

bjorn
bjorn
8 years ago
Reply to  PaulaF

When I first saw the post to the neighborhood facebook group I assumed this all happened within 50 feet of the intersection. It makes it all the worse that she was chased for blocks.

jeff
jeff
8 years ago

nothing a can of pepper spray wouldn’t solve.

Zach H
8 years ago

Ugh. Completely unsurprising (& disgusting) that there was a misogynistic slur thrown in there. My anecdotal experience of road rage here is that it is almost always men as the perpetrators. Masculinity on the road is a big part of the road rage problem.

Big kudos to the neighbors who de-escalated and filmed. Other have said this on BP too, but I’ve been pretty impressed by how quickly road rage situations I’ve been in calm down when I stop in the middle of the road, pull out my phone, and start filming/taking pictures.

jeff
jeff
8 years ago
Reply to  Zach H

maybe, but I had a nice verbal interaction with a really pissed off woman at SE 52nd and Woodward early last week. She was out of control, yelling obscenities at me while I stood there waiting for her to stop at the pedestrian crossing. I simply pointed to the flashing light as she accelerated by me. Something about not seeing me (she did have time to slow and scream at me), f-ing asshole, f-you, etc etc. funny and very sad at the same time.

Chris I
Chris I
8 years ago
Reply to  Zach H

And it’s worth noting that he likely wouldn’t have bullied a larger male cyclist. He’d be lucky to get away with just a slap on his precious SUV.

TonyT
Tony T
8 years ago

People were probably speeding by this guy all day long in their cars, but that’s totally normal and no big deal (how much you want to bet he speeds too). Someone rolls a stop sign in a car, and it just happens to be someone he feels safe physically intimidating, and he’s just GOT to do something about it. Big man.

TonyT
Tony T
8 years ago
Reply to  Tony T

I meant “someone rolls a stop sign on a bike”

Montaviller
Montaviller
8 years ago
Reply to  Tony T

Even better: If he’d waited 10 seconds, he could have watched every motorist blow through the stop sign as well. I live really close to here, and with hyperbole: 90% of motorists don’t stop at the stop signs here.

lyle w.
lyle w.
8 years ago
Reply to  Montaviller

Sit at any busy four way intersection watching people go throught it at any time of the day in Portland, and i guarantee you 95% of people will roll through it without stopping to the letter of the law. Now, put someone on a bike, who poses literally 1/1000th of the physical danger to you as a car driver, and you get your dose of perspective on this.

Spiffy
Spiffy
8 years ago

In the ensuing moments, the woman admits that she slap the wheel wells of the SUV several times (a fact you can hear the driver mention in the video as his rationale for becoming upset, as in, “she hit me first”).

as far as I know there’s no law against slapping a vehicle, especially one that’s about to hit you… they can’t hear us yelling so hitting the car is usually the only way to get their attention… cyclist horn…

and if they’re close enough for you to slap them then it’s likely they’re doing something illegal by not giving the required space to the cyclist…

I called the police about a road-rager throwing things at my vehicle… their response: unless there’s damage we won’t dispatch an officer…

the police simply don’t care until someone/something is damaged…

ethan
ethan
8 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Even with damage, they won’t really care. Someone intentionally hit me and my bike a few months ago. There were witnesses, bike damage and a very small injury.

I had the guy’s description, license plate number, everything. No charges were filed.

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
8 years ago
Reply to  ethan

You can always prosecute it yourself… Citizens Arrest for harassment.

http://www.stc-law.com/citizenprosecutions.html

WAR
WAR
8 years ago
Reply to  K'Tesh

Or just mark the car with paint.

invisiblebikes
invisiblebikes
8 years ago
Reply to  ethan

You still have time to File for a Citizen initiated citation, once the aggressor is ticketed and found guilty (in a few months) you can sue him civilly for damages either in small claims court or a larger Lawyer driven case.
You can sue civilly either way but a conviction of a the traffic violation makes a civil suit almost open and shut in small claims court.

daisy
daisy
8 years ago

If the woman who was on the bike is pressing charges, does that mean the police have identified the man in the SUV?

invisiblebikes
invisiblebikes
8 years ago
Reply to  daisy

“pressing charges” could be as simple as filing a Citizen Initiated Citation if she called and got an officer that was willing to work with her.

ethan
ethan
8 years ago

It would be nice if there were a low-stress network of connected bikeways that incorporated commercial districts and didn’t allow cars in the same space as people biking. Perhaps that could even include closing certain streets to cars completely. That would be so, so, so very nice.

The people who are violent toward people on bikes need to stop. I was intentionally hit on NE 7th by someone who said that they were going to run me over. This kind of hatred toward people on bikes has to end.

Tim
Tim
8 years ago
Reply to  ethan

How is segregation going to work? Sooner or later these paths cross the road and now cyclists truly have no right to be there.
How often to drivers stop before entering crosswalks and sidewalks? Changing the streets will not change drivers attitudes.

Tyler
8 years ago
Reply to  Tim

Wrong. Just plain wrong. Parroting Forrester or other VC drones doesn’t make it true.
Simply put, the current laws in place would continue to be in place. Everyone has legal protection while crossing a lane…
The breakdown is on the Police enforcement level, not a legal rights level. The City’s Police, the DA’s and Courts don’t give flying $%&* about the rights of people on bikes. That’s the real issue.

Eric Leifsdad
Eric Leifsdad
8 years ago
Reply to  Tyler

Segregating bike traffic won’t make biking safer if we don’t fix the enforcement and attitudes. Note that 90% of the network in the Netherlands is neighborhood streets shared with limited car access. You have to deal with intersections, and if you don’t give bikes priority at every intersection, people aren’t going to switch to biking. Our tendency to spend money on stranded small pieces of photo-op bikeways isn’t helping driver attitudes either. We need to develop the political will (or at least spine) for signs and paint (20mph speed limits, “do not enter except bikes”, buffered/parking protected lanes) and a fully connected low-stress network. Then, usage and support for more bikeways will take care of itself.

Adam H.
Adam H.
8 years ago
Reply to  Tim

Go ask The Netherlands how mode separation is working out for them…

El Biciclero
El Biciclero
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam H.

…Mode separation AND different legal arrangements for users of various modes… Only one of these can work without the other.

Electric Mayhem
Electric Mayhem
8 years ago

The police dispatched an officer to come to my house and take a report when some punks threw beer cans at me. Nothing came of it, but I was impressed that they sent someone out. I guess it depends on how busy things are at the time. I’m starting to use a bike cam now. One in front and soon, one in the rear. Not sure whether these help much in court, but it can’t hurt.

SEPDXRider
SEPDXRider
8 years ago

I will look at the video tonight when I have access. I believe I reported this same man in a similar vehicle in the same area about 4 months ago doing similar and muffed the license plate by one number so the officer told me too bad.

Or I got the plate right and instead of being a little sporty blue grey car it came up an SUV so the officer figured I had it wrong… He really just wanted out of there and I was so bummed because the guy clipped my pant legs and I felt the grill coming at me. I hope I get time to sort this out.

My crime? I stared driver down at the stoplight on 82nd after he came inches from me at that crosswalk squeeze point around SE 87th and Stark. Just looked at him then I said, very matter of fact – I got 4 kids buddy.

So he flipped out and started cussing and when the light turned green… he was about 3 or 4 cars back… came for me in the bike lane.

This happens a lot and the curbing at Stark/SE 87th puts us into the road every morning. It sucks so bad. I think we’re going to get killed because driver’s seem to get really irate when we are in the road, even though the bike lane makes us take the lane for 20 feet through the intersection.

Another time, same street, a little further East, about 6 months ago a similar vehicle to the one above got mad when I rolled through the three way stoplight… the bike lane goes straight… around like 90th, just past the 205 heading west… it’s like those intersections on the waterfront. Big grey area. Honked at me. I waved and did an airplane. Mistake. He came for me engine screaming. Swerved into the bike lane to SHOW me.

And just last week – Motorcycle… and guess where I ended up? After getting buzzed, yes he gunned the engine and did it at like 55mph… we are now sitting at a red light side by side. Looked at him. Just looked. He flipped me off and told me I needed to get out of the way. Then peeled out at the light with the back of the bike whipping around… then slowed and kept looking back at me like he’d turn off and kill me at some point.

Sigh. Welcome to cycling past SE 60th Avenue.

Oliver
Oliver
8 years ago
Reply to  SEPDXRider

I’ve said it 100 times, curb bulb-outs are a dangerous menace to cyclists.

Hello, Kitty
Hello, Kitty
8 years ago
Reply to  Oliver

But they’re great for pedestrians.

WAR
WAR
8 years ago
Reply to  Oliver

When they went up on devision thats when I knew there would never be bike lanes there.

Mark
Mark
8 years ago

Seriously people, carry high powered pepper spray. It works. People want to come scream at you, (you have your gopro on don’t you?) Warn them..and if they keep coming at you, let loose.

WAR
WAR
8 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Make sure to test the pepper spray on yourself.

For your training I recommend:
1) Closed Eye face spray and running around the block.
2)Closed Eye face spray and riding a bicycle around the block.

That way when the overspray hits you.
You’ll be ready.

Mark
Mark
8 years ago

Oliver
I’ve said it 100 times, curb bulb-outs are a dangerous menace to cyclists.Recommended 1

It is a little odd they don’t have a cut through for bikes. Seemed like a good idea…for one group of people.

Rob Chapman
Rob Chapman
8 years ago

If suv guy really did try to run the lady over with his car then he showed the ability, opportunity and intent to seriously injure or kill her. She would have had every reason to defend herself.

I’ve been yelled at and honked at by random drivers more in the last couple of weeks than I have in the last few years and I’m a foot down stopping, signaling grandpa rider. I think people are getting frustrated at not being able to zip around in their single-occupant vehicles anymore and they need somebody to take it out on. It won’t be me.

Do no harm but take no shit. Keep those heads on swivels y’all.

Christopher Sanderson
8 years ago

If only we could use our energy more constructively and positively…

WAR
WAR
8 years ago

Nope. Were only going to focus on the small things.

Chris I
Chris I
8 years ago
Reply to  WAR

This is not a small thing. This is why many people are afraid to ride. This is why many women are afraid to ride. Old men with anger management problems who will target people that they perceive as weaker with a deadly weapon. This is a huge problem.

gutterbunnybikes
8 years ago

Though not sure, I suspect this guy lives or works in the area. Looks a lot like a guy (and the car) that often passes closes and swears at me when I’m on 76th (which is often). Though myself being a 6′ tall, 200# male, I’ve yet to have him stop to chat. I usually just smile and wave.

That intersection is nothing but rolling stops, very few actually stop at it – unless they absolutely have too.

Despite all this 76th is still a great North/South route. Easily get from from FoPo (75th from Division to Powell – back to 76th on the south of Powell) to Cully (the i-84 overpass is a couple blocks over on 74th) and even 76th is pretty cake riding- slower cars thanks to speed bumps and most people are pretty forgiving of bicycles – I’ve always considered it an unauthorized greenway – and the bicycle traffic on it unofficially supports this.

Spiffy
Spiffy
8 years ago

I rode on it (76th) Sunday and there were more bikes than cars… I was happily surprised…

caesar
caesar
8 years ago

The 34 second video shows nothing other than two dudes talking and a third (woman) off camera commenting. Hardly incriminating evidence.

Spiffy
Spiffy
8 years ago
Reply to  caesar

the video is positive ID… the victim and witness have the incriminating evidence in their memories…

Caesar
Caesar
8 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Please. If the witness’ “memories” can be trusted then there is certainly no need to rely on this video for ID.

Chris I
Chris I
8 years ago
Reply to  caesar

Maybe you should try reading the multiple witness accounts.

pdx2wheeler
pdx2wheeler
8 years ago

Probably would be a good idea if we all rode with constantly recording HD cameras.

Adam H.
Adam H.
8 years ago
Reply to  pdx2wheeler

I did for a while but I got sick of having to charge it constantly and having the camera die midway though my ride.

Chris L
Chris L
8 years ago
Reply to  Adam H.

I won’t ride without cameras. Getting evidence is key to safe roads for everyone.
Rideye is easy to charge and lasts hours.
I tried Gopro, but the battery only lasts a couple hours, and the recording doesn’t reliably loop over.

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

There has never been a machine that reduces the humanity of its user like the automobile.

Lester Burnham
Lester Burnham
8 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Cellphones are pretty good at that too. All people do is stare at them like zombies.

Travis
Travis
8 years ago
Reply to  Lester Burnham

Except for when they’re using them to film sociopaths for evidence.

Dan
Dan
8 years ago
Reply to  Lester Burnham

They don’t make you hate other phone users, or non phone users, or humanity itself.

WAR
WAR
8 years ago
Reply to  Lester Burnham

News papers did a pretty good job at making people anti-social too. #dontBlameTheTechIndustry

gutterbunnybikes
8 years ago
Reply to  WAR

& the internet????

rain waters
rain waters
8 years ago

Another instance of pent up denial boiling over as motorists come to terms with the only change they can make in their destructive lifestyle that matters. Park the source of heat. This is reaching a tipping point now so be careful while you enjoy the ride and try harder to cap any smugness that might bring out the beast.

lyle w.
lyle w.
8 years ago
Reply to  rain waters

Sadly, it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. The city is clearly not making the necessary changes to the infrastructure to handle the influx of people in the city with cars escalating. Combine that with the entitled car-centric attitudes of people moving here, and the cauldron is heating up. Get your gopros wired up, people.

Dan
Dan
8 years ago

I was stopped with 5 other cyclists and a car at a red light near the Rose Garden this morning. All of a sudden one of the cyclists decided to stand up and pedal through the red light, just as a bus was coming the other direction with a green light. The bus driver stopped and let the cyclist proceed. Considering how annoyed I felt watching this idiocy unfold, I’m sure it was even more irritating to the driver who was stopped beside us.

WAR
WAR
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan

Thats what I’m talking about. If your going to Blow passed stop signs then you might as well go on a red. Just make sure its clear.

scott
scott
8 years ago

I think we can all agree: Khaki shorts means this person is a monster.

#NoMoreKhakiShorts

Chris I
Chris I
8 years ago
Reply to  scott

You must wear jorts.

scott
scott
8 years ago
Reply to  Chris I

You must choose and combine parts from words that already exist and match them to new discoveries.

WAR
WAR
8 years ago

Hey if your going to be a scoff-law then you gotta play the part.

Better get ready to be heckled.

Chris I
Chris I
8 years ago
Reply to  WAR

Your grasp of grammar is almost as impressive as your definition of “heckling”. Apparently, menacing someone with a 4000lb luxury SUV is considered “heckling”.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
8 years ago

This is why everyone should ride and drive with a running camera. No more he-said-she-said. The recorded version is there.

Caesar
Caesar
8 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

What recorded version are you referencing? This video shows two people talking near a car.

CeSS
CeSS
8 years ago

Don’t forget you can document (and upload) road rage incidents here as well http://closecalldatabase.com/

resopmok
resopmok
8 years ago

For anyone who didn’t want to pause the video to see the license plate number, it’s 864 GMC. If you see the vehicle on the road, I hope you act appropriately.

JMak
JMak
8 years ago

Wait, he characterization of the man by the victim here is “misogynistic”? Really?

I mean, I have no reason the question the validity of thr story here, but this seems like a weird way to describe what was reckless, violent, and intentional behavior. Maybe the victin here gave the quote some time after the incident and believes she knows the guy’s syate of mind, but still, “misogynistic”? That’s just weird.

bjorn
bjorn
8 years ago
Reply to  JMak

To be fair it is less weird than the guy calling her a slut while he tried to hit her with his car because he saw her commit a minor traffic violation when there were no other road users nearby.

Dead Salmon
Dead Salmon
8 years ago
Reply to  JMak

Quote: “….. characterization of the man by the victim here is “misogynistic”? ”

Agree, it is weird for sure. Reminds me of other hysteria by liberals that they refer to as microaggressions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjmUgjWle5w

It’s hilarious that she can’t just state the fact that the perp tried to kill her by running her off the road. I guess that isn’t bad enough.

Dead Salmon
Dead Salmon
8 years ago

This type of incident is fairly typical of what happens when you slap a motor vehicle. Nothing new here. Move along……..

soren
soren
8 years ago
Reply to  Dead Salmon

How many times have you slapped a motorvehicle, Dead Salmon?

Dead Salmon
Dead Salmon
8 years ago
Reply to  soren

Enough to have learned that a road rage incident is likely to occur immediately after the slap. 😉