Tip leads to car, arrest in Bend hit-and-run
An anonymous tip to 911 early Sunday led police to arrest a 20-year-old Bend man on charges he crashed a car into the front of a southeast Bend convenience store, then fled the scene early Saturday, officers said.
Police were called shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday to the reported hit-and-run crash at the Quickway Market Chevron, 690 NE Butler Market Road, said Sgt. Ron Taylor.
Officers arrived to find extensive damage to the front doors of the business, he said.
They were able to develop information about the car involved, a gold 1987 Mercedes-Benz, but were unable to learn where it went after leaving the area, Taylor said, as the car’s DMV registration did not show information about the owner.
However, police checked area police records and learned Aaron James Wallman, 20, of Bend, had been contacted in the car recently. But the address Wallman gave at the time was no longer valid, Taylor said.
Shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday, a caller wishing to remain anonymous called 911 and reported seeing the suspect car parked on NE Second Street near Burnside Avenue.
No one was there, Taylor said, but officers were able to find an address for Wallman a few blocks away and were able to take him into custody without incident.
Wallman was taken to the Deschutes County Jail and booked on charges of hit-and-run (property), reckless driving, reckless endangering and first-degree criminal mischief. He later was released on his own recognizance, officers said.
