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LOCAL & US/WORLD NEWS columbian.com » News » Local News  

Car crashes into radio station's lobby; Clark County man later detained


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Saturday, March 15, 2008
By JOHN BRANTON, Columbian Staff Writer

Would a 30-year-old Clark County man become so upset about something he heard on talk radio that he would crash his car into the lobby of KXL Newsradio in Portland, then drive home?

 

That’s what police and radio employees are saying about the man, who allegedly has been calling KXL and its sister station, Jammin’ 95.5 FM, for years.

It all began about 1 p.m. Friday, said Sgt. Brian Schmautz with the Portland Police Bureau.  He said the man backed a white Toyota Corolla into the lobby and drove away.

No one was injured in the shower of shattered glass and twisted metal, but a receptionist was in the lobby when it happened.

Portland police traced the Toyota’s license plate to the man’s home, then notified officers in Clark County, who took him into custody for a mental evaluation later Friday afternoon, Schmautz said.

Schmautz declined to identify the man since he was detained but not arrested or charged with a crime. However, the case likely will be taken before a grand jury, Schmautz said.

Kevin Allen, managing editor in KXL’s newsroom, said employees aren’t sure exactly what the man was upset about Friday.

The station broadcasts a number of talk shows, many political.

In previous calls from the man to the station, he’s made death threats, Allen said.

The Columbian was unable to confirm the man’s name Friday night.

Level 3 sex offender is missing

Corrections officers and police are looking for James Matthew Kelly, 25, a homeless sex offender who sexually assaulted children in Clark County.

Kelly, whose nickname is Skittles, is classified as a Level 3 sex offender, the group considered most likely to commit new sex crimes.

When Kelly was younger than 18, he sexually assaulted children here, said Gelinda Amell, supervisor of the Sex Offender Unit of the state Department of Corrections.

Kelly was released from prison in December and now has gone missing.

Warrants have been issued for his arrest, alleging he committed failure to register as a sex offender, riot with a deadly weapon and third-degree assault. Amell said she didn’t know the details of the rioting allegation.

Kelly is white, 6 feet tall and 260 pounds. His eyes and hair are brown.

Anyone who sees him is asked to call 911.

John Branton covers crime and law enforcement for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.



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