and run and vehicular assault.
(Photo: Clackamas Co. Sheriff’s Office)
Given our recent discussion of police responses to vehicular assault, I thought this story from Clackamas (about 11 miles SE of downtown Portland) that just came over the wire was interesting.
According to the Oregon State Police, at just before 2:00 today a man named Blake Sharkey Steve, 20, was talking on his cell phone while driving his GMC Suburban when he pulled out of a gas station and struck 20-year old Bonnie Ingersoll as she rode her bicycle on SE 82nd just north of Highway 224. Steve then fled the scene.
Thankfully, several witnesses saw the collision and stuck around to tell Oregon State Police troopers what had happened. One astute bystander got Steve’s license plate and vehicle description and police were able to trace it to his residence and make the arrest.
Steve was lodged into the Clackamas County Jail for felony hit-and-run (with injury) and Vehicular assault of a bicyclist (ORS 811.060). (Not sure why he wasn’t also charged in violation of 811.507, “Operating motor vehicle while using mobile communication device”).
Ingersoll received minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene.
This is a good illustration of the importance of getting license plate numbers (and other information) and it also shows that, given solid leads, the police do sometimes take the time to follow up and get the bad guy (especially if someone has been injured).