Jackson Co. Sheriff's Office

Emergency Messages as of 10:59 AM, Mon. Jul 28

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News Release

UPDATE: Missing 73-Year-Old Gold Hill Man Located Safe (Photo) -07/17/25

UPDATE: Missing 73-Year-Old Gold Hill Man Located Safe

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. -  Roland was located by a citizen stuck in his vehicle on a rural Road off of East Evans Creek. He is safe and a Mercy Flights ambulance took him to a local hospital for medical treatment. Thank you to all who helped search. His dog is fine and being returned to family.

Original release:
 

JCSO Case 25-3740

GOLD HILL, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is searching for a man missing out of Gold Hill since the evening of July 14. Roland “Rolly” Renfro left his house in the 1500 block of Rogue River Highway in Gold Hill and was last seen driving east in his Silver 2015 Ford F-350 with a personalized license plate of ELK-RNR. The truck is pictured but did not have the trailer attached when he left his residence.

Roland is described as a 73-year-old man with fair skin, standing 6’1” tall, weighing 320 lbs., bald with hazel eyes. He is accompanied by his small pug/terrier mix dog.

Roland has existing medical issues which require daily medications and it is unknown if he has those with him. He frequents the outdoors and is likely in a rural part of Jackson County.

JCSO, Family, and friends have searched the Gold hill/Butte Falls/Prospect areas and have been unable to locate him or his vehicle. If you see Roland or his vehicle, call ECSO Non-Emergency Dispatch at (541) 776-7206 and reference JCSO Case 25-3740.

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Task Force Busts Black-Market Cannabis Grow; Investigators Find Nearly 1k Marijuana Plants, Unlawful Water Use; Code Enforcement Issues $15K In Fines To Landowners (Photo) -07/15/25

Video Available for Download: https://vimeo.com/1101683853?share=copy#t=0

JCSO Case 24-0952

EAGLE POINT, Ore. – Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives served a search warrant the morning of Thursday, July 10, at a black-market cannabis grow on a farm in rural Eagle Point. During the search warrant in the 15200 block of Highway 62, IMET detectives seized approximately 988 illegal marijuana plants, 22 lbs. of processed cannabis, and $3000 cash. One suspect was detained on scene and charges of felony marijuana manufacture and possession are being referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location. IMET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents.

During the search warrant, Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued a total of $15,000 in fines to the landowner. The fines were issued for violations related to failure to obtain land use approval for marijuana production, utilizing RV’s for dwelling purposes within a marijuana grow site, solid waste, an unpermitted second dwelling, and multiple unsafe and non-permitted electrical, mechanical, plumbing and structural installations.

Oregon Water Resources Department Enforcement section Watermasters also responded to investigate the property’s water usage. Watermasters issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the responsible parties for the unlawful use and appropriation of groundwater for the cultivation of an unpermitted crop. This type of water violation is subject to both civil and criminal penalties.

While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, Oregon State Police, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads. No further information is currently available for release.

Heppsie Mountain Fire UPDATE: Level 1 Evacuation Notice Canceled For Zones JAC-325B, JAC-326 (Photo) -07/13/25

Due to successful firefighting efforts the Level 1 evacuation notice for JAC-325B and JAC-326 has been canceled. These zones are located south of Highway 140.
 
Know Your Zone https://protect.genasys.com/
Jackson County Sheriff's Office has Canceled the Level 1 evacuation notice for the area of: JAC-325B, JAC-326
 
Jackson County Sheriff's Office ha Cancelado la alerta de Nivel 1 de Evacuación para: JAC-325B, JAC-326

Sheriff’s Office Releases Incident Details On Medford Police Officer-Involved Shooting -07/08/25

MPD Case 25-11269

 

MEDFORD, Ore. – Jackson County Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit (MADIU) detectives are investigating the Medford Police Department (MPD) officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday, July 4 in Hawthorne Park. As part of the MADIU investigation, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO)and Oregon State Police detectives arrived on scene shortly after the incident. JCSO has taken the lead in the investigation. It is standard protocol for an outside agency to take the lead in officer-involved shooting investigations. 

 

Approximately 8 AM on Friday, July 4, an MPD officer encountered a suspect with a felony warrant along the Bear Creek Greenway in Hawthorne Park. The suspect, Salvador Alex Sanchez, 55, a Medford area transient, was wanted for two counts of unlawful use of a weapon for an incident that occurred earlier this year. The MPD officer called for backup when Sanchez became uncooperative and armed himself with a large, fixed-bladed knife.

 

Sanchez ignored several requests to drop the knife and advanced at an officer on scene. The officer fired their handgun, striking Sanchez. Officers quickly provided aid to Sanchez and a Mercy Flights ambulance arrived in less than five minutes. Sanchez was transported to a local hospital where he remains in custody in the intensive care unit in stable condition.

 

On Monday, July 7, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Sanchez for attempted first-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, and attempted second-degree escape related to this incident. A Jackson County Grand Jury is scheduled to convene to consider those charges and to decide whether the use of deadly force against him was justified under Oregon law. The two officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, pending that Grand Jury determination, which is standard protocol in Jackson County.

 

More information will come from the District Attorney’s Office following Grand Jury. There is no further information available for release at this time.

 

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JCSO Deputy Merck Memorial Service News Availability / / IMPORTANT / / Please Do Not Publicize Event Location -06/29/25

REMINDER: Memorial Service Tomorrow morning. Please RSVP if you will be sending a reporter to  cover the event. IMPORTANT NOTE: The static procession will commence at approximately 9:00. I will be on scene at approximately 8:00. Please have your reporter contact me so I can escort.  Thank you. 
 

Original release: Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a Memorial Service for fallen Corrections Deputy KC Merck. The event will start Monday, June 30 at 10 AM at the Jackson County Expo. (1 Peninger Rd. Central Point, OR 97502). There will be media availability onsite for coverage of the event with limited movement in the venue. NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH THE LOCATION AS IT IS NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. If you would like to attend in person please RSVP with PIO Aaron Lewis at (541) 531-8203 or lewisaj@jacksoncountyor.gov

This will be a full honors active duty death memorial service. A static procession of law enforcement vehicles will be parked at the expo and KC and family will be escorted by LE Motorcycles through the lineup of vehicles. We are expecting many Law Enforcement agencies from throughout the State. There will not be a procession through town as is customary for line of duty death ceremonies.

We will be livestreaming the service for those that cannot attend. Here is the link which will go live Monday Morning 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony: https://youtube.com/live/xg6pPSS5E-4?feature=share. The link can be publicized.

Please call or email with questions. Additional footage will be available for download later on Monday.