Vancouver man accused of punching a stranger appears in court

Police have recommended charges of felony assault for a Vancouver man who, in April in downtown Vancouver, allegedly punched a stranger in the face who was trying to buy a parking pass.

Jonathan J. Oson, 31, appeared Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of second-degree assault.

In a probable cause affidavit, arresting officers wrote that on April 6 the victim, Craig Phillips, 28, was trying to buy a parking pass for his wife from a meter near 500 Main St. Phillips told officers he was having trouble getting the meter to work when a gold Nissan parked near his vehicle, and a man, later identified as Oson, got out.

Oson stood to Phillips’ right at the meter, and Phillips, who was struggling with the machine, motioned to Oson to go ahead. Oson then punched Phillips in the face, according to court records.

Phillips’ wife told police she was walking toward her husband when she saw Oson strike him. Oson walked away and as he passed her, he said, “I’m sorry,” then drove away, court records state.

She snapped a photo of his license plate, which officers traced to Oson, and then Phillips later identified Oson from police photographs.

Court records say a CT scan found Phillips suffered multiple fractures under his eye, which were causing nerve damage.

Oson’s bail was set at $25,000, and his next court date was scheduled for July 6.