Portland police have announced two more arrests in the case of a
fatal hit-and-run on Burnside from earlier this spring.
Officers arrested Joshua
Chavez, the brother of suspected driver Ashley Chavez, on Tuesday. He was
arraigned Wednesday afternoon on charges of tampering with evidence and
hindering prosecution.
Then, on Wednesday, police arrested Ashley Chavez's boyfriend,
28-year-old Christopher Rhea, at his home in Lake Oswego. Rhea faces the same
charges and is expected to appear in court on Thursday.
Police say neither Josh Chavez or Rhea were inside the car during
the hit-and-run, but they're accused of trying to help cover up the crime.
Ashley Chavez, and her passenger, Angela Kaps-Collins, are accused
of trying to hide the car that investigators believe was used in a March 31
hit-and-run which killed Nancy Schoeffler on West Burnside Street, as she took
a late night walk, according to investigators.
Law enforcement sources say Ashley Chavez and her co-worker
Kaps-Collins spent the evening of the crash drinking and going to a Portland
Timbers match. Officials say they then
transported the vehicle involved to Kaps-Collins home in Corbett for repairs.
Neighbors told Fox 12 they noticed people swapping out car parts
in the driveway.
U.S. Marshals arrested Ashley
Chavez in Bellingham, WA, late last week.
Police say she was with her boyfriend at the time, but he wasn't arrested
until today.
Ashley Chavez remains in Washington, but has waived extradition
and will be brought to Portland to face charges including second degree
manslaughter, failure to perform the duties of a driver, tampering with
physical evidence and DUII.
Members of the Chavez family who were in court Wednesday had no
comment.
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