Portland's community endured another loss on Sunday, August 14, when local musician Ryan Sumner suffered a blood clot that traveled to his heart, leading to his death. Born on September 9, 1978, the not-quite 27-year-old had lived with a blood condition since birth. He was found by his mother struggling to breathe. She rushed him to the hospital, where he died peacefully.
Despite his physical challenges, Ryan's illness never slowed him down, and he was an active and supportive presence in the Portland music scene, most notably as the drummer for Cocaine Unicorn, as well as in projects such as the Stores, Federale, and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. Shortly before his passing, Ryan had gained a position interning with TVT Records.
His friend Collin Hegna wrote in a statement to Sumner's friends, "He was sometimes misunderstood, but I dare anyone to tell me you didn't love him." With past employment stints at such downtown rocker watering holes as Kelly's Olympian, Ryan was well known and admired around town. Close friend Rory Carroll remembers, "No one has ever taught me more about friendship, family, loyalty, and love, and no one has ever made me laugh harder or smile bigger." Many condolences to Ryan's friends and family. MARJORIE SKINNER
A memorial service for Ryan Sumner will be held Sat Aug 27 at Colonel Summer's Park, SE 20th and Belmont, 1 pm
Last Wednesday, August 17, city council unanimously approved another settlement to pay off two cyclists who were allegedly roughed up by police. This time around, the amount is $50,000. Over the past several months, city council has approved a series of settlements for alleged police brutality.
The most recent settlement stems from an incident two years ago when a group of cyclists stopped to watch what they thought seemed like a suspicious traffic stop. When two of the cyclists refused the cops' demands to move along, one was handcuffed and slammed to the pavement. The other cyclist, an attorney, also claims that she was roughed up. Police pressed charges against the couple, but a jury exonerated them. In turn, the cyclists sued the police. The $50,000 settlement was approved by city council in order to avoid a larger jury award. PB
