Man in court following I-205 disturbance

A man accused of assaulting a woman Saturday afternoon while in a vehicle driving on Interstate 205 refused to cooperate during a brief appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Tuesday.

Darrell D. Classen, 26, was supposed to appear on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment, felony harassment, second- and fourth-degree assault and reckless endangerment. However, Classen refused to cooperate during the hearing.

Judge David Gregerson said Classen will have to make a first appearance on the allegations Wednesday morning.

Vancouver and Portland police officers were dispatched at about 3 p.m. to a disturbance in a vehicle that was traveling north on I-205 from Portland. The vehicle pulled over on I-205 at the state Highway 14 exit before police arrived, according to a news release from the Vancouver Police Department.

A woman ran from the vehicle and into lanes of traffic. Other motorists who had observed the disturbance stopped and attempted to help her, the news release said.

The alleged assailant, later identified as Classen, began chasing the woman but was deterred by several people who had stopped to help the woman. Classen allegedly slapped one of the witnesses, according to Vancouver police.

Classen then attempted to flee on foot but was held by several witnesses on the shoulder of the highway until police arrived, the news release said.

A young child also was in the couple’s car, Vancouver police spokesman Cpl. Duane Boynton said.