Man arrested, accused of fatally running over another man in stolen truck after Hood River bike theft

The man who police believe fatally ran over another man in Hood River last week[1] was arrested Tuesday.

Johnathan Bradly Matthews, 31, faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle after Stephen M. Hayes was killed at around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, court records state.

Two other people accused of being in the truck at the time of Hayes' killing -- William Edward Hardy Jr. and Elizabeth June Bowman -- were arrested on Saturday and charged with second-degree murder and other crimes, court records show.

Court records allege the fatal incident started when Matthews picked up Hardy and Bowman in a stolen truck that he claimed he got from his new job.

"Hey, guys, you need a ride?" Matthews asked, according to court records. He, Hardy and Bowman apparently already knew one another.

As the trio pulled into Hood River, Matthews started talking about how he wanted to pick up a bike he claimed he owned -- and then pulled up next to a truck with a bike in the back and asked Hardy to get it, court records state.

Hardy grabbed the bike and put it in the back of the stolen truck, but Hayes saw what was happening and ran out of his home, court records say.

Hardy later claimed to investigators that he thought the bike belonged to Matthews.

Hayes grabbed onto the door of the truck, and Matthews gunned the engine -- with Hayes still hanging on as the truck sped off, court records state.

"The guy (Hayes) lets go," Hardy told investigators, according to court documents. "There goes a 'thud,' and it felt like he ran someone over."

Matthews didn't stop; he kept driving, Hardy says in the court documents.

First responders found Hayes in the street, still breathing, but he later died from his injuries.

Multiple witnesses saw the incident, and ring camera footage allowed detectives to identify the truck as having been stolen from a wastewater treatment facility sometime after noon on Friday, court records show.

Police spotted Hardy and Bowman with the stolen truck in a Walmart parking lot in Hood River around 1 p.m.

Saturday, and detained both of them for questioning, court records say.

Both were arrested, and investigators got an arrest warrant for Matthews, who is now being held in jail without bail.

Matthews hasn't been appointed a lawyer and could not be reached for comment; lawyers for Hardy and Bowman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

-- Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news.

Reach them at [email protected] or 503-221-4313.

References

1. ^ ran over another man in Hood River last week (www.oregonlive.com)