(Photo © Jonathan Maus)
Just before noon today, police responded to tips about a blue Hummer H2 parked on the corner of SW Salmon and Broadway. The vehicle fit the description of the SUV that was involved in a road rage attack in Northwest Portland.
A reader named “BURR” left a comment about the vehicle just before 11:30 this morning. I rode over to the location to investigate and noticed the SUV parked at the NE corner of the intersection and a Portland Police squad car was already on the scene.
Just as the bike rider in Monday’s incident described, the Hummer had temporary plates (they were from “Vic Alfonso Cadillac Hummer”).
After several minutes of talking on his radio and peering into the SUV’s windows, Officer John Clinton (in photo above), told me he was running the information through the computer as per the ongoing investigation of Monday’s incident.
owner of the Hummer.
Clinton said since the case is not being treated as a felony assault (it’s an “assault 4” case), he is not able to tow away the vehicle without further evidence. At this point, he was writing up the vehicle for a parking violation and said he left his card on the vehicle’s window in hopes that the driver would call him back.
A few minutes later, the owner of the Hummer showed up. He and Officer Clinton had a brief conversation and then the vehicle owner paid up his parking time and returned to the building he was in.
Once the owner of the Hummer left, Officer Clinton updated me on the situation. He said the Hummer owner claims he is not the man they are looking for and that he was home with his family in Vancouver (WA) at the time of yesterday’s incident. Clinton said the man told him he was downtown visiting his lawyer.
\”Clinton said the man told him he was downtown visiting his lawyer.\”
I\’m sure that visit has nothing to do with the road rage incident, right? Riiiiiiight… 😉
Now that they have a possible suspect, could they pull his DMV photo and put together a photo line up for the victim and the witnesses?
On a side note, no mention of whether the plates were OR or WA, but wouldn\’t there be another violation for registering his vehicle in OR since he admitted to being a WA resident?
the original post said
\”a balding man\”
that man does not look too balding from the photo
Hm-m-m. The cyclist-victim wont talk to the police or the news. The driver of the hummer that may coincidentally meet the description of the one the cyclist-victim claims was driven by a \’30ish\’ balding man that threatened him with a baseball bat and knocked him down, claims he\’s not the man the cops are looking for. Claims he was home with his family at the time of the alleged altercation.
Well, I suppose we\’ll all just have to stay tuned. At least the hummer driver is talking to his lawyer. It may turn out he needs him if the truth happened to slip past him somehow.
Just to clarify.. that\’s not true. The victim is talking with the police, he is just keeping his name out of the press for privacy reasons.
So the officer writes the owner/driver of the vehicle a ticket, but lets him pay up his parking? So then two questions run through my mind…
Isn\’t there a max time limit per block of Portland? So why not make him 1)pay the ticket and then 2) pay for more parking time? He is not supposed to feel bad about questioning him about the incident, his vehicle matches the description of the vehicle in question.
Why no ticket for no plate/temp sticker?
I just don\’t get why this guy was able to walk away without more of a fine than a slap on the hand and forced to put more $$ in the machine. Hopefully his lawyer has a good talk with him.
I have to say…DAMN YOU\’RE FAST, MAUS!!
on scene, up to the minute reporting…you obviously beat the entire PDX news squad to a story..
Jonathan, thanks for that clarification. I got that about the cyclist not co-operating, from comment #70 on the other thread, and didn\’t notice contradicting info in comment #74.
Vanessa seems to be right that the guy in the pic doesn\’t appear to be balding. That doesn\’t necessarily mean the wrong vehicle has been identified though. Someone else may have had temporary use of the vehicle. That person may be the perp.
The attack happened on 1/21, not yesterday, according to the craiglist post.
A Hummer, and a parking violation.
Wow.
What a surprise (again).
When you buy a vehicle in Oregon, you have to pay WA sales tax when you register it in WA. 6% on 60,000 is a lot of loot!
While assault in the fourth degree does seem like the best fit for the incident as described, I wonder why 4th degree assault is a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/163.html
The victim apparently told police that there was no baseball bat involved. He never saw a baseball bat. That came from witnesses. There were also many other discrepencies that kept the \”corporate\” media from covering this. That said, keep up the good work Jonathan.
\”visiting his lawyer\” Possibly a wise move. Stay tuned kiddies!
Thanks for being on top of this Jonathan
#12 above, according to the victim\’s own e-mail: \”I went back down to 23rd where there were people and he jumped out of his truck ran at me with a baseball bat and shoved me over and punched me in the face when I got up. \”
Suspicious?
An assualt charge on your record looks bad whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony. It\’s almost like how being charged for something and being found not guilty can look just as bad as being convicted.
True, the individual in the photo doesn\’t seem to match the \”balding\” description, but royal blue + temp. plates fits very well, so maybe they should push on this lead a little more.
Great Action, Great Job!
BUMMER! Those SUVs are worethless excuses to have a self-inflated ego.
Way to be on the beat bikeportland!
Humm,
If the incident happened as described, It should be an attempted assault in the first degree (trying to run the cyclist off the road/hit him with the vehicle), which would be a felony, as well as the assault in the fourth degree, (punching the cyclist).
Nice work spotting this car, team! All I can say is that this case is under investigation. And it certainly stinks having to wait.
The blue Hummer does indeed fit the description, but let\’s remember, friends: In our legal system, the accused are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
the hummer there is an h3 the hummer involved was an h2(bigger)
I think the PPB should start giving tickets to all Hummer owners… \”Sir, you\’re vehicle is too big for the road. You\’re emitting more than your fair share of pollution and constraining our energy supply. Additionally, other road users are sustaining a greater risk of injury and even death because of your selfish choice to drive a military vehicle on our city streets.\”
#22
Looks like an H2 to me…
By the above picture, shouldn\’t this guy get a ticket for being too far from the curb? Imagine how far that fat pig of a gas guzzler is out in the street.
woogie #2 – Ya. Let the wheels of justice come screeching to a halt!!! Let\’s just throw money at an investigation! Ya. Entitled biker vs. Entitled motorist = the constituency pays? Hurray for justice.
Joyce #9. Ya. This is an ALLEGED attack, hon. Remember that Constitution of the United States of America thingy that everyone is always going on about? Check out the 6th amendment sometime, would ya?
David Dean #11. Remember that a felony conviction bars the convicted from voting, possessing a firearm, and many other civil rights in this country. Assault IV is the fourth in a group of assault charges, and it is the only misdemeanor. Do you know that if you bump into some one on a sidewalk, on accident, that if the person you bumped into saw fit, they could allege an assault? Do you really think that it is fair to call that a felony?
Shelly #18. Jesus, jealous much? You do live in a free country, you know? Or do you? Your grasp of the language you were likely born speaking leaves a bit to be desired too. If what other people own makes you that nuts, you\’ve got a problem much larger than entitled General Motors fans.
Tom #19. Ya. And if the incident DIDN\’T happen as described, the victim should be charged, and prosecuted, for felony interference in a police investigation. Also they should be charged for the, \’spitting\’, as that is an assault IV in Oregon. Also, reckless endangerment, as their improper use of the public right-of-way, could have caused an accident. Innocent until proven guilty, man.
nerf #22. Ya. The Hummer in the picture is an H2, genius. Here is a pic of an H3. Clearly, you have the skills to be a Portland Police Officer.
Moo #25. Ya. Look, another jealous biker. What business is it of anyone\’s, what somebody else decides to drive, own, use, waste, eat, smoke, have sex with, and on, and on…? You don\’t like Hummers? Don\’t buy one. How dare you ridicule some one\’s choice in such a manner. You are further polarizing an issue that is already becoming much too divisive. It\’s a little easier to garner motorist sentiment without people like you, and Shelly #18, constantly hurling insults.
This whole thing cracks me up. I hope both of the idiots involved in this childish nonsense end up in trouble. That is usually how things like this turn out. Bet the authorities decide to give both of these brain-donors some hassle. Bet.
You all need to check yourselves. There are particulars about this situation that make it impossible to have even the first clue about what actually happened. Furthermore, conspicuous displays of wealth are not a crime. Why ridicule some one for their consumer choices, when you all are doing such a good job at taking the high-road, and living by example? Seriously. If you would like to see the world change, do it by example, and not by demand.
LOL. then vance went and told all his online blogger pals about how he really stuck it to those \”bikers\” over at bike portland. have a nice day vance.
Vance #26: \”Remember that a felony conviction bars the convicted from voting…in this country.\”
That is not true. Ya.
The issue with the Hummer in particular is that it has become a symbol of the excess of consumption in this country. When one sees a single driver on city streets with a sub 15 mpg beast, it just doesn\’t sit well with people who have an awareness of global issues.
Vance,
Yes, an alleged attack with many witnesses.
Punching someone in the face and threatening them with a baseball is a far cry from bumping soemeone on a sidewalk.
Spitting on the street or on a vehicle is not assault.
Yes people should be able to drive what they want, we as a society should not be subsidizing bad decisions.
You can go check yourself now.
Been outside much Vance?
Jonathan, I just want to let you know that I myself (and I imagine a few others) am on the verge of never reading, much less leaving comments in the future. Without missing a beat every (excellent) article of yours is now followed by a steady flow of attacks on other comments and other people, both those who commute by bike and car.
But please continue keeping us up to date on this story!
…And what a wonderful world it will be when everything is SH#32 approved.
Sh-
You do not have to read the comments. Try it out sometime. The same thing works for alcohol, drugs and pornography. For that matter it works on the issues of gay marriage, hipsters and fat people.
Welcome to freedom. It is a messy affair, to be sure.
I agree with the colorful Vance on one issue for sure.
Why does everyone get so worked up over Hummers? There are countless other SUV\’s and the like on our streets. Hell, all the crap our economy runs on is floated across the Pacific on an ocean of burned diesel. (including our bikes and most Americans food).
Almost all the Hummers are built on a Chevy Suburban chasis. It is just a different shell on top. Do you all hate Suburbans with the same level of rancor?
Why not?
Vance@#26
I\’ll give you a 3 out of 10 for that troll.
It\’s our business what other people drive when it\’s a prettied-up military vehicle that tears up the streets, pollutes and takes up more than its fair share of the road. It\’s a menace that endangers us. It\’s also my right to ridicule them for looking like a self-centered ass by driving one.
Ramona Heights #35. Name one military application for the Hummer H2. Just one. You\’ll find that you are confusing it with another Hummer model called a Humvee. Subaru manufactures a military vehicle, why are you not slamming them? So does Suzuki, so does Mitsubishi, and Jeep. Ignorance? Oh, well that\’s okay, be sure to keep talking.
Moving on, why don\’t you also provide a legal definition for, \’fair\’, would ya. Look, you have an opinion which is all fine and good, but when that opinion becomes something upon which action is taken you\’ve got another thing altogether. Let me spell this out in lefty-speak so you can understand it. Repeat your vitriol about conspicuous displays of wealth, only instead of the word, \’Hummer\’, use the word, \’gay\’, or, \’black\’, or, \’female\’, and see if you are starting to sound like anyone you know, k?
I\’m trying to point out how readily everyone applies a stereo-type to the Hummer driver, on a biking blog; but then turns around and completely ignores many of the, just as accurate, cycling stereo-types. This isn\’t likely to be the big bad, money grubbin\’, Hummer drivin\’, troglodyte versus the helpless, innocent, cyclist. More than likely this is a case of a couple of egos, just like yours, one-upping each other until a false police report gets made.
Your, \’Menace\’, quip is another completely unqualified assertion. You have no idea what the data about that particular vehicle will reflect. I mean, you\’ve already committed to producing inaccurate data on this particular model, why should I not suspect this statement is inaccurate as well? This argument also ignores the fact that if you feel threatened by Hummers, then go buy one for crying out loud! Oh, you can\’t afford it? Hmmm. Now I\’m starting to wonder just why you have a bunch of misinformation about General Motors. You, and you alone are applying the personal choice bias. Judge away, but don\’t be surprised when free people have judgment that is different than yours.
What, like your little emo-uniform isn\’t all about making some statement to society? I\’ll bet guys that driver Hummers hate little dweebs on bikes. Some days, I\’m not even surprised to see myself in agreement with Mr. Hummer.
I seems to me the best defense in this situation would have been a cell phone with a camera. Could have called 911 and filmed the guy being an a$$hole…
And Vance, not everyone that gets harassed on a bike in this town is a little emo kid. I\’ve been harassed a few times, but they usually speed away before I can confront them.
And not everyone with the money or more accurately the credit rating wants to waste their hard-earned cash/credit on a fake off-road bling-bling pose-mobile status symbol like a Hummer.
I just talked to BC, who said that he came upon the incident minutes after it happened and he and his wife said that they saw the driver with an aluminin bat in his hands
The entire hummer phenomena is an exercise in hypocrisy and psychological imbalance. The entire world population today should be concerned with conservation, etc. etc. and then moron George Bush creates tax loopholes so people actually receive an incentive to buy energy wasting personality warping pieces of rolling crap like the Hummer. No person in their right mind needs to drive such a vehicle in the city.
I fully appreciate people\’s outrage with the Hummer. Such vehicles are 180 degrees from the kind of motor vehicles people should be encouraged to buy. They\’re just plain wrong. The Hummer is emblematic of contempt for social responsibility. As the as yet unidentified royal blue Hummer H2 driver exemplifies, the effect of this seems to aggravate the tendency for owners of such vehicles to feel justified in behaving like jerks towards other people on the road.
Vance,
I\’m unclear on why you think the victim is at fault here. He was on a bike and he was chased down by someone in a car. There were many witnesses! He tried to get away but the guy kept following him. What are we all missing here that you seem to think you know? The police are looking for the driver of the car, they don\’t seem to think this is a false report. If you have some facts that rest of us don\’t then please do share, otherwise quite making stuff up.
He was then threatened with a baseball bat and punched in the face and you think this is funny?
What I have gathered from these comments.
All cyclists have emo-uniforms.
If you\’re driving a Hummer, and you chase someone attack them and then flee the scene of the crime it\’s likely their fault.
Everyone on this comment page is united and has the same opinions which are all equally opposed to whoever Vance is.
Vance has hard wood for people prostrating their middle-age mobiles as if they were rap stars.
Did I miss anything?
Spitting is not assault 4. If you spit on someone, It would be harassment unless you had some disease, knew you had it, and the spitee caught it as a result of your spitting on them.
Torfin #41 Yeah, cookies are good, wait wrong thread!
I\’ll agree with much of what Vance is saying. Mob mentality can often times do more harm than good, there is a lot of irrational thoughts flying around this thread that\’s just pure silliness. But not in a ha ha way.
Steve #34 Yup, hate Suburbans too. Especially with 24\” spinners;-)
I think most of those gigantore vehicles that people buy are either for status or because they feel safer in them. Can\’t really fault either, I\’m just more of a practical consumer myself. They are essentially tools and you don\’t use a 5lb sledge when carving wood. Proper tool for the job. Back home we had a neighbor that used to have a farm in the country. One of the farm vehicles he had was an eighty something lifted Suburban 4X4 diesel. It was a work horse. When he retired and moved to suburbia, he sold it and got a Volvo. That to me is logical. I 10mpg tank for weekly grocery shopping and taking the kids to school is not logical to me.
I\’m sure not anti internal combustion engine, Hell, PIR is Holy ground for me! Love the smell of high octane gas pumping through high compression motors and being belched out of open exhaust systems at high RPM\’s at the end of the front straight! Once again, proper tool for the job.
90% of the driving I do these days is to Mt. Hood Meadows. For that reason I don\’t apologize for owning a 4WD vehicle, which unfortunately gets poor gas mileage. It has nothing to do with being a status symbol.
Obviously this is all a big misunderstanding. Being embarrassed over his baldness, he wanted to put his wig on before confronting the cyclist. Thinking it was his wig, he accidentally grabbed the baseball bat. Trying to fit the bat on his head, he ended up waving it around a bit. Turns out the wig was under the seat, and he found it later. Which is why he appears with a complete set of hair in the picture above.
I personally hate people.
Here is a short list of who: Cyclists who blow through stop signs, making me look bad. Cyclists who look down on me for driving an SUV, even though it gets mileage not much worse than my newer Subaru Outback. BMW and Porsche drivers who think Skyline is their personal autobahn. Soccer moms driving anything while on their cell phone. All drivers attemting to text message someone while driving. Any cyclist who is a fan of claims to be all about saving the environment, and yet watches Nascar, IRL, or any other form of motorized racing. All those ef\’n people I saw in court this week who needed an interpreter to fight their driving without a license charges. I hate Ford, Cadillac, Pontaic, Saab, BMW, Subaru, etc. for their ads perpetuating the drive as fast as you want on surface streets mindset.
Yeah, I hate people.
Oh, and I would buy a Hummer and turn it into a Biodiesel, and get much better mileage than most of you do. I guess as a cyclist, I should hate me too.
Here\’s a good one to keep under your belt for when your bad guy isn\’t a bad guy but he still drives and parks a Hummer:
Under Portland’s city traffic code 16.20.130 (http://tinyurl.com/3al9pf), any vehicle taller than 6 feet is prohibited from parking within 50 feet of an intersection.
If big (>6ft… ahem… the h2…) old stupid-a55 SUVs obstruct your view making it dangerous for you to walk, ride, or drive Portland streets, call Parking Enforcement at (503) 823-5195 with the locations and license-plate numbers of offenders. Slap SUV sluts with a $40 parking fine – sweet icing for what must be atrocious gas receipts.
Some estimated SUV heights, FYI:
Enclave – 6\’1\”
Sequoia – 6\’1\”
h3 – 6\’2\”
Lexus 470 – 6\’2\”
Range – Rover 6\’3\”
Yukon – 6\’5\”
Escalade – 6\’7\”
h2 – 6\’7\”
Tahoe – 6\’7\”
Sprinter – 8\’11\”
Vance 26/36,
Its everyone\’s business Vance.
When you drive a vehicle that pollutes, thats everyone else\’s business.
You drive a vehicle that drinks gas? You\’re damn right that\’s everyone else\’s business! Supply and demand Vance! You\’re driving up the prices for your fellow Americans. But you don\’t care about that do you Vance?
No of course not. You\’re focused on Vance.
You\’re no Patriot Mister. Just another phoney flag waiver bent on spewing negativity.
I\’d like to see you pedal around on a bicycle for a while Vance. I\’ll bet that\’d take some wind out of your sails. And it would turn down the volume on your bluster. For a while anyway. But then later, you\’d be back to the same old Vance. Right Vance? Yeah right!
That\’s what the ego does Vance. Justify itself with negativity. So rest assured, you\’ll keep doing it. Likely for the rest of your life. Its what you do best.