EUGENE, Ore. – A former Oregon Ducks football player who is accused of pistol-whipping a person in California on Christmas Day was arrested in Springfield this week on a warrant from his hometown of Long Beach, California, according to court documents.
A probable cause affidavit with a fugitive from justice charge filed in Lane County Circuit Court said that Ryan Tristan Chance Taylor, who is also known as Ryan Pellum and is a wide receiver for the Ducks who just entered the transfer portal, allegedly caused an injury to the victim’s head that required stitches. Taylor then allegedly fired two rounds in an unknown direction. A nationwide extraditable warrant was issued for his arrest in Long Beach, California on a charge of assault with the use of a firearm, the affidavit said.
Court documents show that Eugene police located Taylor at an apartment on Gateway Street in Springfield and observed him coming and going from the residence. Police contacted him there on Wednesday, and Taylor allegedly told police that he knew he had a warrant in California because people were calling him about it, but he didn’t elaborate further, according to court records. Taylor is not currently in the Lane County Jail as of January 10; bail was posted by an unknown person for an unknown amount on Thursday after Taylor waived extradition. Court records show that Taylor is due back in court on January 23 and California has until that date to pick Taylor up from Oregon.
Taylor had signed with the Ducks in December 2023, under the last name of Pellum, after initially committing to the University of California in Southern California. Taylor’s uncle, Don Pellum, was a linebacker for the Oregon Ducks in the 1980s, and coached the Ducks for more than 20 years at the University of Oregon. He was the defensive coordinator in 2014 before going to UCLA where he was the linebackers coach until his retirement in 2022.
A spokesperson with the university said Taylor is no longer enrolled at the school and no longer a member of the Ducks.
This is a developing story. Stick with KEZI 9 News as we gather more information.
Chelsea Deffenbacher joined KEZI 9 News as a morning news anchor and reporter in January of 2024. If you have a story idea for Chelsea, you can email her at: chelseadeffenbacher@kezi.com.