Drunk Driver Arrested After Collision With Fire Engine In Cave Junction (Photo)
-02/27/25
RELEASE DATE: February 27, 2025
INCIDENT: DUII Crash
INCIDENT DATE: February 26, 2025
CASE NUMBER: 25-4354
REPORTING DEPUTY: Lieutenant Jim Geiger
ARRESTED: Alec James Varner, 63 Years Old
CHARGES: Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants
DETAILS: On February 26, 2025, at approximately 11:47am, deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a traffic crash at the 76 Gas Station in Cave Junction. A private vehicle collided with an Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) engine that was on-site for refueling.
Upon arrival, deputies determined that the driver of the private vehicle, identified as Alec Varner, exhibited signs of intoxication. Field sobriety tests were conducted, leading to the driver's arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII).
Both vehicles sustained minor damage; no injuries were reported. The IVFD engine remains operational and will continue to serve the community without interruption.
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office emphasizes the dangers of impaired driving and urges all motorists to make responsible choices to ensure the safety of our community.
UPDATE: International Apprehension Of Wanted Subject
-02/26/25
2/26/25 UPDATE: The US Marshals Service retrieved Shawn Higbee from Cambodia and brought him to San Francisco, CA where he was picked up by Josephine County Sheriff's Office Deputies and lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail.
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12/31/24 Original Information:
RELEASE DATE: December 31, 2024
INCIDENT: International Apprehension of Wanted Subject
INCIDENT DATE: December 17th, 2024
REPORTING DEPUTY: Detective Sergeant Henrich
ARRESTED: Shawn Christian Higbee, DOB: 05/29/1983
CHARGES: Sodomy 1
DETAILS: Over the last several months, our Josephine County Sheriff's Office Crimes Analyst has been working with the United States Marshals Service (USMS) in an attempt to locate a wanted subject, Shawn Higbee, for the crime of Sodomy 1.
Higbee has had an arrest warrant out of Josephine County since 2019. Higbee had been able to evade apprehension. It was discovered by our analyst that Higbee had fled to Cambodia and had been there for several years. Higbee's exact location was pinpointed in Cambodia, through the dedicated hard work, training and experience of the analyst. That information was relayed to the USMS, who turned the information over to their international apprehension team.
On December 17th, 2024, Higbee was taken into custody. Higbee is currently lodged in a Cambodian jail and is awaiting extradition back to the United States. Once in country, he will be transported to the Josephine County Jail to face further prosecution regarding the crime of Sodomy 1.
At the time of this press release no further details are being released.
Update: Located - Missing Person: Morris, Wayne (Photo)
-02/25/25
UPDATE 2/25/25 10:00am - Wayne has been located safely.
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Date of Report: 02/24/2025
Case: 25-4214
Name: Wayne David Morris
Age: 76
Sex: Male
Race: White
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 180
Hair: Gray
Eyes: Blue
Information: Wayne was reported missing late Monday night. He was last seen on Vine Street around 3:00pm on 2/24/25. He was driving a gray 2020 Chevrolet Silverado with OR license plate 593MMB. The OnStar app shows the vehicle's last known location to be in the Hog Creek area around 4:30pm later that day. SAR has been activated.
Please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information.
Phone: 541-474-5123
UPDATE: LOCATED Missing: Burks, Kristina M (Photo)
-02/18/25
2/16/2025 UPDATE: KRISTINA HAS BEEN LOCATED SAFELY.
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Josephine County Sheriff's Office Case Number 22002571
Name: Burks, Kristina M.
Age: 37
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 180
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
On December 1, 2022, Kristina Burks was reported missing by her parents. She was last seen in the Murphy area but has been known to frequent all of Josephine County. She normally stays in contact with family, however she has not been heard from for over a month. She is currently believed to be homeless.
Please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information.
Please reference case # 22002571
Office: 541-474-5123
Bitcoin Scams (Photo)
-02/18/25
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office receives numerous reports of people being scammed into buying Bitcoin. The bad actors of these scams are very convincing. Scams include, but are not limited to, PayPal, Norton Antivirus, LifeLock, pretending to be financial institutions and Law Enforcement. Scammers may want access to your computer, claim you have warrants, or say a loved one is in trouble. They may also provide convincing documents showing deposits into your accounts or give sob stories that they will get in trouble or lose their jobs.
We understand that hearing facts about your life, home or family can be unnerving and can aid in their attempt to appear legitimate. Much of your information is readily available online such as full names, birth dates, phone numbers, addresses and photos of your home. Scammers use this information to make themselves believable. Once they have convinced you that they are legitimate they will have you deposit money into a Bitcoin machine. These machines are located at numerous locations such as grocery stores, mini markets and various other places. The scammers may keep you on the phone while you are withdrawing money and depositing it into the machines.
If you are contacted by one of these scammers take note of these "red flags" and stop. Talk to your bank, law enforcement or trusted friend before withdrawing money or making deposits. If someone insists that Bitcoin or gift cards are the only form of payment that is accepted, then something is definitely wrong!
If you think there is a possibility of any truth to their claims against you, tell them you will call them back and hang up the phone. DO NOT call back the number they provide. Instead look up the business phone number yourself and call to verify any claims.
You can report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission here: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Missing Runaway - Herren, William
-02/13/25
UPDATE 2/13/25: WILLIAM HAS BEEN LOCATED.
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Missing Runaway - William Herren
Case: 25-1199
Age: 15
Sex: Male
Race: White
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 130
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Information: On January 16, 2025, William Herren was reported as a runaway from the Cave Junction area. There is concern he will try to travel to Portland. He may be trying to conceal his face with a blue or black bandana. He is wearing clothing similar to the above photo and may have a black backpack with him.
Please contact Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information. 541-474-5123
