EAGLE POINT, Ore. – A crash involving two motorcycles and a pickup injured two White City men Monday evening. Deputies are investigating whether impairment contributed to the crash.
On June 18, 2018, at 7:31 p.m., dispatch received a 911 call reporting a crash on Dodge Road near the intersection with Wedgewood Drive. Deputies learned that a westbound motorcycle collided with the eastbound pickup in the eastbound lane. The force from the collision caused the motorcycle to collide with another westbound motorcycle.
The motorcycles and their operators slid on the ground and came to rest off the roadway. The pickup crashed through a fence and came to a stop in a field.
Both motorcycle operators were transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center for treatment; one was transported by Mercy Flights helicopter with critical injuries. The driver and passenger in the pickup were not injured.
Witnesses reported seeing a third motorcycle rider, a woman who had been riding with the two men. After the crash, she reportedly yelled for neighbors to call 911, and then left the scene. Deputies would like to identify her in order to obtain a witness statement.
Deputies were assisted by JCSO detectives and a crash reconstruction team from the Oregon State Police. Fire District #3 and Mercy Flights provided medical assistance.
The incident remains under investigation. Additional details are not available for release at this time.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Sergeant Scott Waldon at (541) 774-6800. Refer to case #18-12375.
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JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — As more people head outdoors during the summer months, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies offer a reminder to be vigilant and use common sense. Criminals are looking for opportunities to take advantage of you while you leave your vehicle unattended at places like boat ramps and trailheads.
Plan ahead and keep the following tips in mind:
* Choose well populated areas for recreation, when possible. Thieves don’t like witnesses.
* Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. Common targets include purses, wallets, cell phones, firearms, fishing gear, and high-end clothing.
* If you must leave your belongings behind - such as while traveling - hide them from view before arriving at your destination. Thieves will watch for people stashing purses and other valuables in the trunk.
* If you must store valuables in the trunk, lock your trunk latch so a thief accessing the vehicle interior can’t open the trunk.
* Do not leave a spare key in your car. If a thief finds it, the entire vehicle is likely to be stolen.
* Lock your doors! This suggestion is sometimes debated; but, remember that theft is a crime of opportunity. In most cases, thieves want to act quickly and quietly. If you make it difficult, they’ll move on.
* Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement. Provide detailed descriptions of vehicles and people.
* Have fun!
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MEDFORD, Ore. -- A Jackson County jail inmate mistakenly released over the weekend is back in custody. Emily Ashton Fasel, 23, was released from jail in the early morning hours of June 10, 2018, after being mistaken for another inmate who was set to be released for overcrowding.
Investigators are reviewing evidence to determine whether Fasel intentionally represented herself as the other inmate. Sheriff Nathan Sickler said, "Regardless, we made a mistake and let the wrong person out of jail. We will work to ensure this doesn't happen again."
In the days following Fasel's release, investigators worked to locate her. On the evening of Tuesday, June 12, 2018, Fasel was found in a hotel in Grants Pass. She was transported back to the Jackson County jail for lodging.
Fasel was recently identified as a Chronic FTA Offender after amassing warrants for repeatedly failing to appear (FTA) in court on charges of drug possession (heroin and methamphetamine) and second degree theft. She was arrested by Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) detectives on June 6, 2018, and lodged in jail. Under the Chronic FTA Offender program, Fasel was ordered to be held in jail until her pending cases could be adjudicated.
In addition to multiple warrants, Fasel now faces a new charge of theft for taking property belonging to the other inmate. The case will be forwarded to the district attorney's office to review for charges.
Case #18-11805
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ROGUE RIVER, Ore. – A Rogue River man was hospitalized Monday night after jumping in front of a moving vehicle. Deputies say the pedestrian was intoxicated. The teen driver was not injured and is cooperating with the investigation.
On June 11, 2018, at 10:26 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian in the 2500-block of East Evans Creek Road. Witnesses reported the pedestrian, Daniel Lee Allen Warner, 34, of the 400-block of Oak Street, was walking in the middle of the road just prior to the crash.
Deputies learned that Warner jumped directly in front of the vehicle driven by a 16-year-old boy of the 8100-block of East Evans Creek Road. The 2006 Nissan Titan pickup struck Warner, who flew more than 100 feet before landing on the ground. Deputies found Warner to be conscious and breathing, but highly intoxicated.
Rogue River Fire personnel responded to the scene. Warner was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center for treatment. He was reportedly in stable condition Tuesday morning.
Deputies say the driver is cooperating with the investigation; no criminal charges against the driver are expected. The case will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office to review for a charge of disorderly conduct against Warner.
East Evans Creek Road was closed for approximately two hours while deputies investigated the crash. Deputies were assisted by Rogue River Police and Central Point Police.
Case #18-11786
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UPDATE 6/11/18 at 3:15 pm: We are pleased to report that George Gower was found alive this afternoon after spending three nights in the elements. This afternoon, a citizen reported seeing a man matching Gower’s description several miles from the location where his vehicle crashed Friday night. A JCSO deputy located Gower and transported him to the SAR command post. A Mercy Flights ambulance transported him to Providence Medford Medical Center for evaluation. Thank you to our SAR staff and volunteers and to the citizens who assisted with the search!
UPDATE 6/11/18 at 11:25 a.m.: SAR teams are back out this morning (Monday) searching for George Gower. Searchers believe Gower likely took Highway 238 from Grants Pass and turned onto Thompson Creek Road before becoming lost.
SAR received a tip from a resident on Thompson Creek Road that Gower stopped and asked for directions on Friday at 10:30 p.m. Thompson Creek Road intersects with Carberry Creek Road, where Gower's vehicle was found on Saturday morning.
To date, the search for Gower has included ground teams checking roadways and off-road areas. A helicopter was used Saturday and Sunday to search from the air.
Anyone with information about Gower's whereabouts is asked to call dispatch at (541) 776-7206.
Original release, 6/11/18:
JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue (SAR) teams are searching for a Brookings man missing from the scene of a vehicle crash near Applegate Lake. While searchers comb the area, deputies would like to hear from anyone who may have seen the man or possibly gave him a ride to a safe location.
On Saturday, June 9, 2018, at 8:48 a.m., a citizen called dispatch to report a motor vehicle crash in the 9200-block of Carberry Creek Road. The unoccupied vehicle, a new white Mazda SUV, was found upside down off the roadway.
Deputies determined the vehicle belongs to George Randolph Gower, 69. Gower was believed to be traveling from Brookings to Medford on Friday. He did not reach his destination and family members have not heard from him.
It is unknown why Gower‘s vehicle is in the Applegate area; however, he reportedly has displayed symptoms of dementia. Medication belonging to Gower was left behind in the vehicle.
Gower is described as five feet, seven inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with grey hair in a ponytail, and facial hair. His left ear is missing a lobe.
Anyone with information about George Gower‘s whereabouts is asked to call dispatch immediately at (541) 776-7206. Refer to case #18-11589.
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CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Deputies arrested a Central Point man who drove through an active road construction zone on Friday, striking a flagger holding a stop sign. The flagger received minor injuries but was not transported for medical treatment.
On June 8, 2018, at approximately noon, dispatch received a 911 call reporting an incident in the construction zone on Table Rock Road between Airport Road and Hamrick Road. Witnesses later told deputies that a driver stopped in the southbound lane, later identified as Martin Ward Noland, 54, of the 1300-block of Marilee Street, expressed irritation with the traffic control in the construction zone.
Noland proceeded past the flagger, striking the flagger in the leg with the front of his vehicle and running over the flagger’s stop sign. Noland encountered a second flagger holding a stop sign, and continued southbound. Noland was eventually forced to stop due to a construction vehicle in the roadway.
A Knife River Corporation supervisor spoke with Noland and called 911. Noland proceeded through the construction zone when the roadway was cleared.
Less than an hour later, deputies spotted Noland driving in the area and stopped him at the intersection of Hamrick Road and Biddle Road. Noland was arrested without incident and transported to the Jackson County jail.
Charges at lodging included recklessly endangering a highway worker (two counts), recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, and harassment. The case will be referred to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.
Anyone who witnessed the Friday incident is asked to call Deputy John Richmond at (541) 774-6800. Refer to case #18-11537.
Deputies remind drivers of the importance of obeying traffic control devices and flaggers in construction zones. For more information on highway work zone safety, follow this link to a fact sheet from the Oregon Department of Transportation: https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Safety/Documents/WorkZoneFactSheet.pdf.
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WHITE CITY, Ore. – The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office will once again host the Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) Drift Boat Operations Course. The 2018 class begins Monday, June 11, and concludes on Friday, June 15. More than 40 students and instructors from law enforcement agencies around the state will attend the week-long course.
Jackson County has hosted the annual training event for several years. The Rogue River provides an ideal environment for personnel to learn to operate non-motorized boats in patrol and rescue scenarios. Students will learn a variety of techniques for river rescue and personal safety/survival, all while learning to navigate through rapids and obstacles. Students will also learn about updates to state boating laws and safety resources.
The class is sponsored by the OSMB. For more information about boating rules and regulations, visit the OSMB website at www.boatoregon.com.
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JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – A Grants Pass man who claimed to be under the influence of LSD stole a car and eluded police for several miles Saturday evening. The driver recklessly drove the wrong way on multiple roadways, including Interstate 5. Several pursuit intervention measures were required to stop the vehicle.
On the evening of June 2, 2018, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Oregon State Police troopers were in the area of Emigrant Lake in response to a large gathering that reportedly involved drugs and alcohol use. Dispatch received calls from citizens at Emigrant Lake about a man exhibiting strange behavior. The man was later identified as Anthony Joseph Clark, 23, of the 7000-block of Lower River Road.
Simultaneously, two JCSO deputies had made arrests for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) at Highway 66 and Emigrant Lake Road and were awaiting the arrival of tow trucks for the involved vehicles. At approximately 8:25 p.m., Clark entered one of the impounded vehicles, a tan 2003 Toyota Camry. An OSP trooper attempted to physically stop Clark, but Clark was able to flee in the vehicle.
Clark drove off the roadway, evading law enforcement vehicles nearby, then drove toward Ashland on Highway 66. He turned onto Interstate 5 at exit 14, driving north on the shoulder of the southbound lanes.
Clark turned around on the freeway near mile marker 16 and drove south, back toward exit 14. An Ashland Police Department officer caught up to Clark. Clark exited and drove west on Ashland Street toward Southern Oregon University. The vehicle turned north on Walker Avenue and crashed through multiple industrial gates off the roadway. The pursuit was terminated as the vehicle entered the more populated area.
After driving through the downtown area, Clark was seen driving south on Siskiyou Boulevard in the northbound lanes. He turned around again and headed north through downtown. A JCSO deputy caught up to the vehicle as it left the Ashland city limits.
Clark continued north on Highway 99 toward Talent. The deputy followed at a distance to discourage high speeds. A Talent Police Department officer deployed spike strips near the intersection with Rapp Road. Clark continued driving north on Highway 99, despite the vehicle’s deflating rear tires. Clark drove north in the southbound lanes of Main Street (Highway 99) through the city of Phoenix. A Phoenix Police Department officer was able to successfully deploy spike strips near the intersection with Northridge Terrace, deflating the front tires.
Medford Police Department and additional JCSO deputies blocked off arterial roadways ahead. Deputies applied multiple pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuvers, finally stopping the vehicle in the 3400-block of South Pacific Highway (99). Clark attempted to ram a patrol car, and then ran from the vehicle.
OSP troopers chased Clark and took him into custody as he was attempting to steal another vehicle in the Glenwood Mobile Home Park. A JCSO deputy then took custody of Clark.
During the DUII investigation, Clark admitted to taking LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), a hallucinogenic drug, earlier in the day. He told deputies he believed he was in the video game “Grand Theft Auto” and the police were trying to catch him.
Deputies lodged Clark in the Jackson County jail on several charges. Additional charges were added by other law enforcement agencies involved in the prolonged incident. The charges are listed below.
- Jackson County Sheriff’s Office: attempting to elude an officer in a vehicle, attempting to elude an officer on foot, driving under the influence of intoxicants (controlled substance), unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person.
- Ashland Police Department: recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, first degree criminal mischief, attempting to elude an officer in a vehicle, second degree criminal trespass, and unlawful entry into a motor vehicle.
- Oregon State Police: recklessly endangering another person, third degree escape.
The case will be forwarded to the Jackson County District Attorney for prosecution. Clark remains lodged in jail at the time of this release.
Case #18-11108
WHITE CITY, Ore. – An Alaska man is in jail after deputies found large quantities of drugs and money in his vehicle. A Jackson County Sheriff’s Office K9 assisted deputies in finding the contraband during a traffic stop in White City late Tuesday night.
On May 29, 2018, at 11:37 p.m., a deputy stopped a blue Ford Mustang for a traffic violation near the intersection of Antelope Road and Division Road. JCSO K9 Jack alerted to the presence of drugs. During the subsequent search of the vehicle, deputies found an ounce each of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, additional drug packaging materials, and approximately $11,000 cash.
The driver, Patrick Wesley Jaynes, 48, of Ketchikan, Alaska, and formerly of the Eagle Point area, was arrested and lodged in the Jackson County jail on numerous drug charges related to unlawful possession, manufacture, and delivery of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Bail at lodging was $3,025,000.
A detective with the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement unit (MADGE) assisted with the investigation, which is ongoing. Anyone with information can call Deputy Tim Kennedy at (541) 774-6800.
Case #18-10750
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MEDFORD, Ore. – A single-vehicle crash in West Medford struck a power pole and started a small fire during the Wednesday morning commute. The driver was not injured.
On May 30, 2018, at 6:39 a.m., a citizen called 911 to report the crash in the 400-block of Oak Grove Road. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to find a white 2003 Mercedes convertible had left the roadway and crashed into a power pole, shearing it at the base.
Medford Fire and Rescue responded to extinguish a small fire started by the downed power lines. Pacific Power responded to repair the pole and to restore power.
The driver, a 26-year-old woman, was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center for assessment. She was found to be uninjured. A deputy cited the driver for careless driving.
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Update, 5/29/18:
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Jackson County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested three people for impaired driving. Two of the arrests involved alcohol (both had 0.09% BAC), while the third was impaired by one or more controlled substances. Two of the arrestees were men, and one was a woman. Their ages ranged from 32 to 35 years old. Two arrests occurred in the outskirts of Medford, and one was near Rogue River.
Following the holiday weekend, deputies begin a two-week "Summer Kick-Off" DUII patrol event. Deputies on grant-funded overtime patrols may be found anywhere in the county; however, with the school year drawing to a close, targeted patrols can be expected in areas that typically tend to attract minors using alcohol and drugs, and the routes to popular recreation areas.
For tips on how to prevent and deter impaired driving, please refer to the original release. Thank you for helping to keep our roadways safe.
Note: The attached photo is from a crash on Old Stage Road, Central Point, that injured teens and young adults leaving a post-prom party in May 2017 (#17-9625). The 19-year-old driver was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance (marijuana) and other related charges.
Original release, 5/23/18:
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. For many people it is a time for road trips and outdoor recreation. To help keep roadways safe for everyone, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies will be adding patrols to find and stop impaired drivers.
From Friday, May 25, through Sunday, May 27, 2018, deputies will focus their attention on rural roadways, especially those near popular recreation areas. Grant funding allows JCSO to add deputies to the road without taking away from regular calls for service.
Deputies offer the following tips to help prevent impaired driving:
* DRINK OR DRIVE: Once you know where you'll spend your time, decide whether you're drinking or driving - choose only one.
* GETTING AROUND: Before you take your first sip, leave your keys at home or give them to a friend. Get a ride from a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
* HAVE A BACKUP PLAN: Save the number of a taxi company in your phone so you are always ready. In some areas, you can use ride share services such as Uber or Lyft.
* CAMP OUT: Rural areas may not have cell phone service. Take an overnight bag with you so you can spend the night if you’re too intoxicated to drive.
* PASSENGERS, TOO: Drivers aren't the only ones at risk. Only accept a ride from a sober driver.
* HELP A FRIEND: If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, help them to make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
* SAY SOMETHING: If you suspect an impaired driver on the roadway, call police immediately. It is okay to call 911 to report an impaired driver.
For more information and statistics regarding impaired driving, follow this link: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812450.
Update 5/29/18:
SHADY COVE, Ore. - Thanks to a tip from a citizen, Jackson County Sheriff's Office deputies were able to capture a suspect in a recent case of indecent exposure in Prospect. On Friday, May 25, 2018, deputies arrested Lavon Lovis Thigpen, 38, of Gonzales, Louisiana.
On Friday evening, a citizen recognized the suspect from photos previously provided to the media and disseminated through social media. The citizen called JCSO to report seeing a man matching the suspect description at a Shady Cove business.
Deputies responded and spoke to Lavon Thigpen, confirming he was the suspect seen on video exposing his genitals to an employee at the Cascade Gorge Store on May 20. Deputies learned Thigpen has been staying in the Jackson County area a short time and has had no previous law enforcement contacts here.
Thigpen was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on one charge of public indecency. Bail was set at $5,000.
Original release 5/23/18:
Investigators Seek Indecent Exposure Suspect
PROSPECT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigators are trying to identify the suspect in a case of indecent exposure at a Prospect convenience store. The incident was caught on surveillance video.
On Sunday, May 20, 2018, at approximately 5:15 p.m., the man entered the Cascade Gorge Store. While purchasing items, he repeatedly exposed his genitals to the female clerk.
The suspect left the store as a passenger in an older red SUV. He is described as a white male in his 20’s or 30’s with a beard. He was last seen wearing a grey or brown t-shirt and some type of garment on his head.
The driver of the SUV was also captured on video inside the store. He is considered a witness in the investigation, not a suspect. He is described as a male in his 20’s. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt under a button-down shirt.
Anyone with information that can help identify these subjects is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (541) 774-8333. Refer to case #18-10185.