Woman Charged After Allegedly Ramming Car at Ex-Boyfriend
A bystander intervened in the incident captured on surveillance footage.
A 61-year-old Oklahoma woman has been charged with multiple offenses after allegedly attempting to run over her ex-boyfriend with her car, an incident that was thwarted by a bystander. The event unfolded on September 23 in a Ponca City parking lot.
Ruth Harper was captured on surveillance video pursuing Edward Fortune, her ex-boyfriend, with her vehicle. The footage shows Harper's car, as she rounds a gas station corner, closing in on Fortune, who was running away. At the crucial moment, another vehicle intentionally collided with the front right side of Harper's car, stopping its advance.
Officers, with weapons drawn, approached Harper's vehicle and ordered her to exit. She was subsequently arrested and faces charges including two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, driving under the influence, reckless driving, malicious injury to property, and leaving the scene of an accident. She is being held on a $100,000 bond.
The bystander who intervened, Dave Williams, told KOCO5 that he was not originally scheduled to be in the area. His knee replacement surgery that morning had been delayed due to a spider bite. Williams explained he was only present to pick up a car part that had arrived sooner than expected.
Williams' initial plan was to box in Harper's car, but he resorted to direct intervention upon seeing she was about to strike Fortune. He later learned how close the incident was to being far more severe. 'The front bumper of her car had made contact with the rear side of his right leg at the exact instant our two vehicles collided,' Williams stated.
According to an affidavit, Fortune told police that he and Harper had recently separated after dating for nearly two years. Before the chase, Harper allegedly rammed Fortune's parked car multiple times while he was at work, forcing it out of its spot and into the middle of a highway.
Harper then allegedly fled the scene, only to return while an officer was investigating. By then, Fortune had left work and was near his damaged vehicle. Harper allegedly sped toward him, forcing him to evade her. She scraped against his car before turning into a parking lot, then allegedly pursued Fortune again.
An officer at the scene had advised Fortune to go to a nearby gas station. As Fortune ran, Harper allegedly sped toward him, the officer, and bystanders, causing them to scatter. The gas station's surveillance cameras recorded the subsequent chase and Williams' intervention.
Following her arrest, a sergeant found a bag containing multiple prescription medications in Harper's vehicle. A corporal handling the DUI investigation noted that the medication labels advised consulting a doctor before driving. Another sergeant testified that Harper was under the influence of a drug and could not safely operate a motor vehicle.
Harper's charges of assault with a dangerous weapon are felonies, each potentially carrying up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The other charges are misdemeanors.
