Portland, Oregon – On Monday night, Portland police arrested Edy Porfirio Reynoso-Ramirez, 32, after he allegedly struck the motorcycle that John Zupan, 66, was riding. Reynoso-Ramirez was found hiding a few hundred yards from the scene of the crash.
On Tuesday night, Zupan, the owner of a local chain of grocery stores, died from his injuries at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.
Reynoso-Ramirez was speeding and riving erratically before his 1998 Honda Civic crossed the center line on Marine Drive into Zupan’s 2009 BMW motorcycle, according to police.
At age 16, Zupan began working in the grocery industry when he secured a job as a courtesy clerk at Sheridan Fruit Market. He spent11 years working for Fred Meyer as a produce manager, eventually striking out on his own with Zupan’s Markets in 1975.
Reynoso-Ramirez has been charged with second-degree assault, DUI, reckless driving and hit-and-run driving that caused injury and damage to property and will more than likely now be charged with manslaughter. He is currently being held in the Multnomah County Jail on an immigration detainer.
This is not the illegal alien’s first run-in with the law in Multnomah County.
-In November 2003, Reynoso-Ramirez pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and paid a fine.
-In October 2006, he pleaded guilty to providing alcohol to minors, but the charge was dismissed by Judge Steve R. Evans two months later.
On Tuesday, Aug. 30, Reynoso-Ramirez faced a Multnomah County judge for the third time, facing charges of DUI and reckless driving.
So, why was this illegal alien allowed to stay in the Portland area until it now appears that he has killed someone?
Sgt. Pete Simpson, spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau, answered that question when he told KOIN Local 6: “Under police policy we don't ask people their immigration status unless there is a drug arrest and that's a federal mandate.”
In fact, both the city of Portland and Multnomah County have had ‘sanctuary’ policies in place since 1989.
Sgt, Simpson defended the policy, saying: “The other concern in a lot of communities is that if we are seen as asking those questions it may put fear in those communities and they wont cooperate with law enforcement and won't talk to us about domestic violence and gangs or other issues.”
Incredibly, even after Monday night’s deadly crash, the police did not question Reynoso-Ramirez about his immigration status.
He was only identified as an illegal alien due to a routine Immigration and Customs Enforcement audit.
Virginia Kice, Western Regional Communications Director for ICE, released the following statement to KOIN Local 6:
“On Aug. 30, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer conducting a routine review of the Multnomah County Jail’s electronic inmate roster identified Edy Porfirio Reynoso-Ramirez as a potentially deportable alien. After interviewing Mr. Reynoso, the ICE officer lodged an immigration detainer against him, ensuring he will be turned over to ICE for follow-up enforcement action upon his release from local custody. A check of Department of Homeland Security databases indicates Reynoso has no prior immigration arrest history.”
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