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Defendant: Beef over cigarette led to assault

Victim has been in coma since April 23 incident

By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Local News Editor
Published: January 27, 2016, 7:20pm
2 Photos
Spencer Pell, 19, left, makes a first appearance Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault stemming from an altercation in April that left a man in a coma. Another suspect in the attack was arrested earlier this month.
Spencer Pell, 19, left, makes a first appearance Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault stemming from an altercation in April that left a man in a coma. Another suspect in the attack was arrested earlier this month. (Jessica Prokop/The Columbian) Photo Gallery

The co-defendant in an April assault that left a man in a coma says the altercation started because of an argument over a cigarette, according to court records.

Spencer A. Pell, 19, of Vancouver appeared Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault in connection with the April 23 attack near a Hough-neighborhood intersection. The victim, then 54-year-old Chris Brewster, has been in a coma since the attack.

Earlier this month, Rodney T. Franck, 22, of Ocean Park also was arrested and charged in Superior Court on first-degree assault in connection with the incident.

Witnesses near West 21st and Columbia streets told 911 dispatchers that they saw two men kicking another man who was lying in the street, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Vancouver police responded to the area, but the suspects had already fled. Police later detained the men, identified as Franck and Pell, nearby based on descriptions given by witnesses, the affidavit said.

Both men denied having any involvement in the assault, and police were unable to develop probable cause to arrest them then. Police said Franck had bruising and cuts to his right eye that indicated he had been in a physical altercation, court records said.

Franck was booked into the Clark County Jail on an unrelated crime, and while in custody, detectives seized his clothing worn on the night of April 23. Testing showed blood stains found on his clothing matched Brewster’s DNA, according to court documents.

Franck also allegedly made incriminating statements while making calls from the jail on Jan. 5, court records show, which included the name “Spencer” and that he was going to come talk to police.

On Tuesday, Pell came to the Vancouver Police Department’s West Precinct for an interview about Brewster. Pell was unable to identify Brewster when shown a photograph because, he said, of his level of intoxication that night. He reportedly told police that he and Franck were involved in the assault. He said he argued with Brewster over a cigarette and then Brewster punched him, at which time he hit him back and “blacked out,” according to a second probable cause affidavit.

Pell told police he doesn’t remember kicking Brewster, but said he was the guy police were looking for and wanted to do the right thing by turning himself in, the affidavit said.

Pell’s arrest concluded the assault investigation, police said.

On Wednesday, Judge Derek Vanderwood appointed the Vancouver Defenders to represent Pell and set his bail at $75,000.

He will be arraigned Feb. 10.

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