Vancouver man accused in hit-and-run at auto dealership

A Vancouver man who allegedly backed his pickup into a car saleswoman and then fled the scene made a first appearance Thursday in Clark County Superior Court.

Russell M. Karling, 55, faces an allegation of hit-and-run stemming from a March 2 incident at a Vancouver Dick Hannah dealership.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Roxanne Parisien was standing in the parking lot at 3517 N.E. Auto Mall Drive when a black pickup drove in reverse through the parking lot and struck her, knocking her to the ground. Parisien suffered bruising and pain to her right side.

The driver, later identified as Karling through a photo lineup, stopped, got out of his vehicle and escorted Parisien into the dealership. He then acted as if he was going to return to his vehicle to retrieve some information and instead drove away, the affidavit said.

Karling later was contacted at his residence and told police he was the driver and did hit a female pedestrian at the dealership, court records said.

He said he escorted the woman into the dealership, where he had been looking for someone. A male associate told Karling that the man he was looking for was at another lot, at which time Karling said he asked the associate if he needed anything else from him. He said the associate said no, so he left. He denied leaving because his license is suspended, according to court documents.

During his hearing, Judge Daniel Stahnke appointed Karling a defense attorney and set his bail at $5,000.

He will be arraigned March 18.