PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland Police on Monday announced they have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected in a hit-and-run crash that left another man dead.
Frederick James Ryerson Jr. was arrested after officers received reports of a car that matched the description of the vehicle suspected in the crash.
The crash in the Kern neighborhood early Sunday morning left 34-year-old Christopher Brian Chandler with traumatic injuries.
He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but died a few hours later.
According to court documents filed on Monday, a witness to the crash told police that he was in a van parked at the intersection of Southeast Stark and Southeast 29th Avenue when the crash happened. The man told police that he was putting away musical equipment and heard the rear driver’s side window shatter. Another witness told police that he was standing about 2-3 feet away from Chandler. According to the witness, Chandler was standing in the westbound lanes of Southeast Stark. Chandler turned his head toward an oncoming vehicle traveling west on Southeast Stark.
Police got a tip on Sunday that the suspect’s vehicle was located at Southeast 20th and Southeast Oak. Officers went to the intersection and found a four door, silver Honda Civic with damage to the right side of the front windshield and a pillar. The vehicle had a “colorful” California license plate. A third witness to the crash told police that the license plates to the suspect vehicle were colorful.
As police were looking at the car, Ryerson came out and “said that he was the owner of the vehicle,” according to court documents. He said he had found the windshield that way. Ryerson claimed that he had been at a friend’s house and when he left at 1:30 a.m., he walked out and found his vehicle smashed. Ryerson told police that he drove home. Police spoke with the friend who told them that Ryerson had actually left the residence at 3:00 a.m., records show.
Eventually, Ryerson admitted that he vehicle had not been damaged prior to the crash, records state. “He said that he believed someone had hit his vehicle with a rock as he approached the light at Southeast 28th and Southeast Stark,” records state. Ryerson then told police that he was the only person who drives to Honda Civic and he kept possession of the vehicle’s key.
Police said evidence on the Honda was consistent with that of a pedestrian being struck.
Ryerson was arraigned on Monday. He faces two counts of felony hit and run. Police said the investigation continues.
Filed under: Crashes, Crime
