Note: I'm currently on a family trip and not working normal hours. Email and message responses will be delayed and story and posting volumes here and on our social media accounts will not be at their usual levels until I return to Portland September 4th. Thanks for your patience and understanding. - Jonathan Maus, BikePortland Publisher and Editor
Eschweiler in the courtroom today.(Photos © Elly Blue) At the Multnomah County Courthouse today, Johnny Eschweiler waived his right to a trial by jury and was found guilty except for insanity on two counts of assault for using his motor vehicle as a weapon in an August, 2007 road rage incident. Eschweiler was committed to … Read more
The block of SE Clinton wherethe road rage incident occurred.(Photo © J. Maus) Back in 2007, we covered the story of Johnny Eschweiler, the man who intentionally used his car to strike two men on bikes in a road rage incident on SE Clinton Street. Shortly after the incident, victim Ben Ramsdell told BikePortland that … Read more
The stretch of SE Clinton where the incident occurred.(Photo © J. Maus) Johnny Eschweiler, the man who intentionally drove his car into Ben Ramsdell as he biked down SE Clinton Street nearly one year ago, has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Escweiler was initially charged with three counts of Assault … Read more
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). … Read more
On their 11 o’clock newscast last night, KGW (who has been covering this case since the beginning) reported that the family of accused road rager Johnny Eschweiler has freed him on a reduced bail. KGW reporter Scott Burton said that Eschweiler’s attorney, “argued the (bail) amount (originally set at $500,000) was not only excessive but … Read more
A commenter just pointed out that, in response to concern from the community, KGW has published a correction in one of their stories about the road rage incident on SE Clinton Street on August 17th. In two recent posts, I pointed out my concern that KGW’s story was perpetuating the incorrect notion that cyclist Ben … Read more
Timothy Mastne is featured ina KGW video. Click here to watch. KGW reports that Timothy Mastne — one of two victims of a road rage incident earlier this month — got a new bike today. KGW reporter Jane Smith says Mastne picked the bike up from River City Bicycles this morning. A Seattle couple wanted … Read more
Looking west at the intersection of SE Clinton and SE 11th. This is where (I think) Ben Ramsdell and Johnny Eschweiler exchanged words.(Photos by Jonathan Maus) As a popular route for cyclists coming from the Clinton Street bikeway to the riverfront and downtown, the stretch of SE Clinton, just west of SE 11th is currently … Read more
First responder Sean Bennett. Eschweiler’s car came to a stop near the fence in the background.(Photos by Jonathan Maus) My office is just a few blocks from where Johnny Eschweiler drove his car into Ben Ramsdell and Timothy Mastne last Friday. Yesterday I went over to check out the lay of the land, hoping for … Read more
“…when the intention to harm one individual inadvertently causes a second person to be hurt instead.”-from Wikipedia’s definition of “transferred intent” A KGW report and a police spokesperson have said that one of the cyclists injured in last Friday’s road rage incident was completely unrelated to the initial altercation between driver Johnny Eschweiler and cyclist … Read more
Last night, KGW aired a report about Friday’s road rage incident. The headline of the story on their website is “Driver frustrated cyclist wasn’t sharing road”. Reporter Jane Smith presented the incident like this: “Police say he (Eschweiler) got into a confrontation with bicyclist Ben Ramsdell. Investigators say Ramsdell kicked Eschweiler’s vehicle. Eschweiler than struck … Read more
The Justice Center(Photo: Jonathan Maus) A few minutes ago, at the Justice Center in downtown Portland, Johnny Eschweiler plead not guilty to all charges brought against him in last Friday’s road rage incident. Eschweiler was led into the courtroom in handcuffs and a blue jumpsuit. With disheveled hair and a somewhat confused-looking countenance, he stood … Read more
Comment of the Week: Gratitude for N/NE Broadway project