PORTLAND, Oregon. (AP) – A driver accused of hitting pedestrians, cyclists and killing a 77-year-old woman on Monday in Portland, Oregon, pleaded not guilty to the murder and gave detectives bizarre explanations of the incident, according to court documents .
Paul Rivas, 64, through a court-appointed lawyer, also pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to six counts of second-degree assault, six counts of failure to perform driver duties after causing injuries and one accusation of failure to act. performance of a driver’s functions, resulting in a death. All are crimes.
In court, Rivas asked if any of the charges were misdemeanors and asked why news cameras and photographers were present in court, The Oregonian / OregonLive reported.
Prosecutor Sean P. Hughey wrote in a probable cause statement that Rivas initially told investigators that his Honda Element was experiencing brake problems and that he was looking for an auto repair shop. He also suggested that people’s injuries could have been caused by “another similar-looking Honda car,” not his.
Rivas admitted at one point that he hit a cyclist, but characterized the collision as an “emergency maneuver” designed to prevent a more serious accident with the traffic in the opposite direction, says the statement. The investigators said they found no evidence that terrorism, politics or any prejudice motivated him.
He is accused of hitting Portland’s Jean Gerich, then turning around, hitting her again and dragging her, police said. She died of blunt trauma in a hospital on Monday night. The mother and grandmother had beaten cancer five years ago and were excited to leave after receiving their first vaccination with COVID-19 last week, her family said.
Numerous witnesses told police that Rivas appeared to be deliberately trying to hit vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians within 15 blocks on Monday afternoon, turning in their direction on the road and on the sidewalks. He took off after hitting people on residential streets without making any attempt to stop or help them, according to police and prosecutors.
Rivas is accused of using his Honda as a dangerous weapon to kill Gerich and injure at least six other people. Police said he wounded nine others. A man with a head injury could not remember whether he got out of the car before being hit, police said. Most were recovering from minor injuries, police said.
Rivas ended up colliding the Honda with a car and ran away, but was cornered by a group of people before the police arrested him.
Rivas briefly appeared before Multnomah County Circuit Judge Heidi Moawad. He told court officials that he has anxiety and depression and was diagnosed while working for the United States Secret Service, but never worked for the Secret Service, according to court documents.
He’s living in a fifth-wheel travel trailer in Oregon City, he told court officials, and has previous addresses in Washington, where he was convicted in 2019 of voyeurism for shooting under a woman’s skirt while waiting in line for Vancouver , Washington, mail.
Court records show that Rivas had his license reinstated in 2014, after three convictions for non-compliance with road signs, in 2007, 2011 and 2013.
He was arrested and hospitalized on Monday before being put in prison at 11 pm on Tuesday night, where he remains on bail of more than $ 1.5 million, prison records show.