Pedestrian Killed In Gold Hill Hit-and-Run Crash, Detectives Looking For Public’s Help To Identify Suspect (Photo) - 05/18/26

UPDATE 5/18/26: Sheriff’s Office releases names of victim and suspect.

The victim of Saturday morning’s hit-and-run fatality is Justin David Hannaford, 47, of Gold Hill. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested the hit-and-run suspect at approximately 6 PM Saturday evening in the 7100 block of West Evans Creek Road. The suspect, Shavon Marie Walker, 44, of Gold Hill is charged with failure to perform duties of a driver to injured persons, a Class B felony if a person dies as a result of the collision. She is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. This case is under further investigation.
 

Original Release: 

JCSO Case 26-2466

GOLD HILL, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies and detectives are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian that occurred early this morning in the Gold Hill area. Detectives are looking for the public’s help to provide information on a potential suspect. 

JCSO deputies responded to a call for a man down on Access Road Saturday, May 16 at 3:12 AM near Jackson County Fire District 3 Gold Hill Station and Blackwell Road. Medics were dispatched but the 47-year-old man died from injuries before they arrived. Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team responded to assist the investigation. 

The crash occurred sometime between 1:30-3:12 AM early Saturday morning. The involved vehicle is believed to have been traveling north on Access Road (off Interstate 5 exit 40) toward the intersection with Blackwell Road. 

The suspect vehicle’s make and model are unknown at this time. Investigators believe there will likely be damage to the headlight, hood, and or windshield of the suspect vehicle.

If you have any information about the crash, suspect, or involved vehicle please call the ECSO Dispatch non-emergency number at 541-776-7206 and reference case 26-2466. 

Next-of-kin has been notified. Our condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends. At this time we are not releasing decedent information. This case is active and ongoing. There is no further information available at this time. 

I-5 Wrong Way Drunk Driver Crashes Head-On With SUV - 05/18/26

Video Available for Download: https://vimeo.com/1193414348?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

JCSO Case 26-2500

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. – A drunk driver is in the hospital after driving the wrong way on I-5 before crashing head-on into an oncoming SUV. The suspect, Ivan Grover Barber Jr., 43, of Grants Pass, is charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, third-degree assault, reckless driving, recklessly endangering, felony elude, and second-degree criminal mischief. He is in a local hospital with serious injuries.

On Sunday, May 17 at 10:39 PM, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputy attempted to pull over a speeding Toyota pickup in the 6400 block of Rogue River Highway. The truck eluded east at high speed towards the city of Rogue River. Due to safety concerns, JCSO terminated the pursuit prior to the city limits.

A Rogue River police officer deployed spike strips and disabled the truck, but Barber continued driving the wrong way onto Interstate 5, traveling northbound in the southbound lanes. Barber crashed head-on into an oncoming SUV, totaling both vehicles and causing minor injuries to the other driver. Jackson County Fire District 1 and American Medical Response medics arrived on scene to extricate and transport the wrong-way driver.

This case is open and ongoing. There is no further information available for release. Oregon State Police is conducting the crash investigation.

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Man Posing As Utility Worker Attempts To Kidnap Woman, Thwarted By 85-year-old Hero - 05/14/26

Video of arrest available here: https://vimeo.com/1192423580?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

JCSO Case 26-2328

MEDFORD, Ore. – A Jackson County Grand Jury indicted a man today May 14, on 10 charges including stalking, attempted kidnapping, assault, and unlawful use of a weapon.  The charges stemmed from a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) investigation involving a 42-year-old man posing as a utility worker attempted to kidnap a 25-year-old woman from a mobile home park in rural Medford.

The suspect, Matthew Hokulii Aranda, 42, a Medford area transient, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree attempted kidnapping, two counts of stalking, unlawful use of a global positioning system device, unlawful use of a weapon, and menacing.  

On the morning of May 8, the victim was working as a caregiver at a mobile home park in the 3900 block of South Stage Road. The investigation revealed Aranda, posing as a utility worker, waited for his victim for several hours before using a taser to incapacitate and physically attack her. An 85-year-old resident heard the victim screaming and confronted the armed suspect, allowing the victim to escape to her vehicle.

Aranda then tased the “Good Samaritan” for his efforts and chased his victim with a large hunting knife. She was able to get to the safety of her car. Aranda jumped onto the hood, but fell off as the victim drove away, suffering injuries in the process.

Law enforcement located Aranda injured and hiding in a nearby bush where he was arrested without further incident. JCSO was assisted by Oregon State Police, Medford Police Department, and Jacksonville Police Department.

This case is under further investigation. There is no additional information available for release at this time.

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One Shots Fired Call Leads To Deputies Arresting Two Separate Suspects - 05/01/26

JCSO Cases 26-2180, 26-2182

GOLD HILL, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies arrested two unrelated suspects following a shots fired menacing call Thursday, April 30 at 8:44 p.m. Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) 911 dispatch received a report that a man confronted a driver on Gold Ray Road, yelling about her speed before firing a gun into the ground and then toward her.

As deputies responded, they spotted a truck matching the suspect description leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Deputies initiated a pursuit, and the vehicle fled toward Gold Hill. The truck was successfully disabled with spike strips but continued northbound on I-5 on its rims. The vehicle eventually stopped, and the driver fled on foot. Deputies quickly outperformed the driver and arrested him.

The driver, Jay William Oncher-Fontaine, 38, of Wolf Creek, had multiple felony warrants and showed signs of impairment. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on his warrants, as well as charges of elude, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, reckless driving, and additional offenses.

After the arrest, deputies determined Oncher-Fontaine was not involved in the shooting. Deputies returned to the area and located a second truck matching the original description. A traffic stop was conducted, and Frank Pennisi, 28, of Bandon, was arrested.

A search of the vehicle revealed two firearms. Pennisi admitted to shooting in the area and being angered by drivers traveling too fast. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges of menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless endangering.

JCSO deputies were assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police, Central Point Police Department, and Rogue River Police Department. Both cases remain under investigation. No additional information is available at this time. 

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Jackson County To Conduct Annual Jackson Alerts And Emergency Alert System Test On May 1 - 04/29/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jackson County, Ore. – Jackson County Emergency Management will conduct its annual pre-fire season test of the Jackson Alerts mass notification system on Friday, May 1^st, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and concluding by 12:00 p.m.

This annual test helps ensure emergency alerting systems are functioning properly ahead of wildfire season and provides residents an opportunity to become familiar with how alerts are received. The Jackson Alerts test message will be sent only to individuals who have registered to receive alerts.

As part of the test, a live Emergency Alert System (EAS) message will also be broadcast via local radio and cable television.

Jackson County uses pre-designated evacuation zones to issue wildfire evacuation notices. Residents are encouraged to identify their zone in advance to be better prepared during an emergency. Please visit https://protect.genasys.com/search to find your zone.

How to Prepare

• Sign up for emergency alerts through Jackson Alerts
• Look up your evacuation zone using Genasys Protect
• Learn what Oregon’s evacuation levels mean — Level 1 Be Ready, Level 2 Be Set, and Level 3 Go Now! — at https://wildfire.oregon.gov/pages/evacuations.aspx

Community members who do not receive a test alert on May 1^st  may not be registered in the system and are encouraged to sign up.

About Jackson Alerts

Jackson Alerts is the official emergency notification system for Jackson County, used to deliver time-sensitive information during emergencies such as wildfires, severe weather, and other hazards. For more information, to sign up for Jackson Alerts, or to learn your evacuation zone, visit: www.readyjacksonco.com

Media Contact:
Delaney Richmond

jacksonem@jacksoncountyor.gov
Emergency Manager
Jackson County Emergency Management