Oct. 29--Vancouver police are searching for a man and a woman who eluded felony warrants for their arrest Saturday morning by backing a car into two police officers.
The man, Cody J. Stewart, 30, is wanted for impersonating his half-brother during a traffic stop, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
On July 4, Sgt. Wayne Reynolds stopped Stewart for running a red light. Stewart's girlfriend, Ashley Belle Isle, 25, played along with his impersonation.
The Vancouver City Attorney's Office later informed Reynolds about the impersonation.
On Saturday at about 9:12 a.m., Reynolds and another officer, Cpl. Stuart Hemstock, arrived at the home of Stewart's mother at the 7500 block of Delaware Lane in Vancouver. Isle lived next door, police said.
Isle sat in the driver's side of a teal Toyota Yaris as her boyfriend entered the passenger's side. Both have unrelated outstanding felony warrants for their arrests, police said.
The two police officers recognized the couple from the July 4 incident and ordered them to turn off the car and show their hands. The couple obeyed.
While officers tried to arrest the two, Stewart's 53-year-old mother, Barbara K. Stewart, came out of her home and challenged the officers. Though the officers told her they had valid arrest warrants, she refused to leave, according to a police report.
As Hemstock opened the door of the Toyota, Isle turned on her car and rapidly reversed, which twisted Hemstock's arm. Isle continued to back up her car and knocked Reynolds off the ground onto the trunk lid. Reynolds managed to avoid being run over. The pair sped away.
Hemstock suffered minor injuries on his hand and arm, but he was not treated at a hospital. Reynolds was not hurt.
Police arrested Barbara Stewart on charges of obstructing and rendering criminal assistance. She was booked into the Clark County Jail.
Isle is now wanted on two additional charges of assault.
Anyone with information about the two suspects is asked to call 9-1-1 or contact a local police department.
-- Dominique Fong
Copyright 2011 - The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.
