(PORTLAND, Ore.) After Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty was falsely accused of being the suspect in a hit-and-run that occurred in March, Hardesty says she’s suing the city of Portland over the claims, KATU reports.
Hardesty says city employees leaked the false information to local media outlets and that the act was racially motivated and done to punish her for her social justice activism, according to a tort claim provided to the city.
The incident in question occurred on March 3. Portland police said a driver hit another person’s car near Southeast 148th Avenue and East Burnside Street then left the scene without exchanging information. PPB said the person whose car had been hit called the department later that night to report the incident and stated that they believed the suspect was Hardesty.
According to the tort claim, officers showed up at Hardesty’s house the next day around 1 a.m. and banged on the door, which she called “extreme.”
Hardesty was later ruled out as a suspect in the investigation.
The commissioner held a press conference to dispel rumors that she was involved and called it a “smear campaign.” The bureau’s announcement that she was no longer a suspect only came after the press conference.
After the bureau’s announcement, Hardesty released the following statement:
“While I am relieved to see the truth prevail, this incident brings up a number of urgent questions that I want answers to… I’m demanding an investigation so we can get to the bottom of where this smear campaign originated.”
Following the false accusations, Portland Police Association president Brian Hunzeker abruptly resigned for what the union referred to as a "serious, isolated mistake related to the police bureau’s investigation into the alleged hit-and-run by Commissioner [Jo Ann] Hardesty." PPA's executive board didn't specify Hunzeker's involvement.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office released a statement in response to the allegations against Hardesty, saying:
The mayor remains deeply concerned about this incident, and the mayor believes Commissioner Hardesty deserves clear and thorough answers about how and why this happened. The mayor wants those same answers. Commissioner Hardesty has every right—just as anyone would—to pursue litigation. Since there is an ongoing investigation into this incident and the possibility of litigation, the mayor's Office cannot comment further while those processes continue. The mayor will continue to work cooperatively with Commissioner Hardesty in their roles on the City Council to serve the people of Portland.