LA GRANDE — Law enforcement arrested a La Grande man following an early morning hit-and-run on Nov. 21.

Isaiah Wood, 22, of La Grande, was arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants, failure to perform the duties of a driver with property damage, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person, according to Oregon public records.

La Grande Police Department officer Cody Kirby responded to a call shortly before 2:30 a.m. about a hit-and-run that happened on the 1600 block of 26th Street, according to the probable cause declaration.

The reporting party told police he was driving south along 26th Street in his green 1976 Plymouth when he noticed the car behind him was following too closely. He pulled over to let the car pass, but the other driver reportedly pulled in behind him and rear-ended his car.

The reporting party got out of his car, as did the other driver — later identified as Wood — and his passenger. The three got into a verbal altercation, which included the passenger in Wood’s car punching the driver’s side front window of the reporting party’s car. As Wood drove away, he also reportedly sideswiped the car. The reporting party took note of the license plate and told police he believed the car was a silver SUV.

Police found a Silver GMC Yukon in the Jacksons parking lot that had the same license plate number reported by the driver who called police about the altercation. Kirby saw Wood get out of the driver’s seat of the Yukon, and the officer pulled in behind the SUV and initiated contact.

Kirby told Wood that he was investigating a hit-and-run and asked him if he knew anything about the incident, according to the probable cause declaration. Wood reportedly claimed the other driver hit his car and told Kirby his girlfriend had been driving when a green sedan tried to run them off the road. He said the other car had driven around before slamming on the breaks and reversing into them.

In his report Kirby noted that Wood was slurring his words there was a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Wood allegedly shared with Kirby that he had a “couple of beers” but would not elaborate. Later he told police he’d consumed around five Twisted Teas.

Wood’s girlfriend showed up at the parking lot in a silver car and spoke with police. She said Wood had been drinking at home then had left to buy cigarettes. She also told police she had not been with Wood during the hit-and-run incident.

Kirby arrested Wood and took him to the Union County Jail. Wood is represented by court-appointed counsel — La Grande attorney Rick Dall. Wood is due in court Dec. 12 for a plea hearing.