Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash (Photo)
- 03/25/26
RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2026
CASE NUMBER: 26-8043
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: March 24th, 2026, 10:57pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Sergeant Stanton
DECEASED: Richard David Johnson, 50 years old
DETAILS: On March 24th, 2026 at 10:57pm, 9-1-1 was notified of a vehicle crash on Three Pines Road near Monument Drive.
Upon arrival, first responders located a single vehicle. The driver, identified as Richard David Johnson, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The initial investigation shows the vehicle was travelling towards Monument Drive and for an unknown reason, veered off the roadway and struck a fence and a large tree.
Three Pines Road was closed for approximately two and a half hours while Deputies investigated the crash and had the vehicle removed from the scene.
Next of kin has been notified.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash (Photo)
- 03/25/26
RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2026
CASE NUMBER: 26-8043
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: March 24th, 2026, 10:57pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Sergeant Stanton
DECEASED: Richard David Johnson, 50 years old
DETAILS: On March 24th, 2026 at 10:57pm, 9-1-1 was notified of a vehicle crash on Three Pines Road near Monument Drive.
Upon arrival, first responders located a single vehicle. The driver, identified as Richard David Johnson, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The initial investigation shows the vehicle was travelling towards Monument Drive and for an unknown reason, veered off the roadway and struck a fence and a large tree.
Three Pines Road was closed for approximately two and a half hours while Deputies investigated the crash and had the vehicle removed from the scene.
Next of kin has been notified.
Missing Child Located (Photo)
- 03/23/26
CASE NUMBER: 26-7723
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: March 21, 2026, 1:38pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Porter
On March 21, 2026, at approximately 1:38pm, a report was made to the Sheriff’s Office about a four-year-old child that walked away from her home in the Selma area. The child was outside on a large, wooded, rural property playing with two dogs. The child’s mother attempted to find the child and called the Sheriff’s Office after she was unsuccessful.
Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies, Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire, and Josephine County Search and Rescue responded, along with local residents. The child was located at 3:26 PM approximately one mile from her residence with the dogs on a wooded trail. The child was reunited with her family with no injuries or medical need.
Missing Child Located (Photo)
- 03/23/26
CASE NUMBER: 26-7723
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: March 21, 2026, 1:38pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Porter
On March 21, 2026, at approximately 1:38pm, a report was made to the Sheriff’s Office about a four-year-old child that walked away from her home in the Selma area. The child was outside on a large, wooded, rural property playing with two dogs. The child’s mother attempted to find the child and called the Sheriff’s Office after she was unsuccessful.
Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies, Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire, and Josephine County Search and Rescue responded, along with local residents. The child was located at 3:26 PM approximately one mile from her residence with the dogs on a wooded trail. The child was reunited with her family with no injuries or medical need.
Sheriff's Office K-9 Assists With Warrant Arrests
- 03/23/26
Release Date: March 23. 2026
CASE NUMBER: 26-7605
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: March 20, 2026, 11:30 AM
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Porter
On March 12, 2026, Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted a traffic stop near the O'Brien area. The vehicle immediately failed to stop and began eluding Deputies. The two occupants had been identified as James Patterson (39), driving, and Breanna Vineyard (29) as his passenger; both of whom had active felony warrants. The vehicle turned onto a Forest Service Road, slowed, and Vineyard jumped out and ran off into the woods. Patterson continued to elude in the vehicle into a rural wooded area where he eventually fled on foot as well. Oregon State Police assisted with Air Patrol along with Sheriff’s Office K-9 Yana, but Patterson was not located.
On March 17, 2026, another traffic stop was attempted where Patterson was the driver and Vineyard was the passenger. Patterson again eluded deputies and drove recklessly at a high rate of speed on HWY 199. Deputies terminated the pursuit after it continued into California and became dangerous to the public as it entered the Smith River Canyon on HWY 199.
On March 20, 2026, the Sheriff’s Office received information regarding the whereabouts of Patterson and Vineyard. Sheriff’s Office Deputies, with the assistance of Parole and Probation and K-9 Yana, were able to set a perimeter around the location, and give commands for both to surrender. At approximately 11:38 AM Patterson and Vineyard complied with commands and were taken into custody without incident. Aaron Geiger (54) was also located and taken into custody on his felony warrant.
All three were lodged at Josephine County Jail for warrants, along with multiple new charges from the previous incidents.
Sheriff's Office K-9 Assists With Warrant Arrests
- 03/23/26
Release Date: March 23. 2026
CASE NUMBER: 26-7605
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: March 20, 2026, 11:30 AM
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Porter
On March 12, 2026, Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted a traffic stop near the O'Brien area. The vehicle immediately failed to stop and began eluding Deputies. The two occupants had been identified as James Patterson (39), driving, and Breanna Vineyard (29) as his passenger; both of whom had active felony warrants. The vehicle turned onto a Forest Service Road, slowed, and Vineyard jumped out and ran off into the woods. Patterson continued to elude in the vehicle into a rural wooded area where he eventually fled on foot as well. Oregon State Police assisted with Air Patrol along with Sheriff’s Office K-9 Yana, but Patterson was not located.
On March 17, 2026, another traffic stop was attempted where Patterson was the driver and Vineyard was the passenger. Patterson again eluded deputies and drove recklessly at a high rate of speed on HWY 199. Deputies terminated the pursuit after it continued into California and became dangerous to the public as it entered the Smith River Canyon on HWY 199.
On March 20, 2026, the Sheriff’s Office received information regarding the whereabouts of Patterson and Vineyard. Sheriff’s Office Deputies, with the assistance of Parole and Probation and K-9 Yana, were able to set a perimeter around the location, and give commands for both to surrender. At approximately 11:38 AM Patterson and Vineyard complied with commands and were taken into custody without incident. Aaron Geiger (54) was also located and taken into custody on his felony warrant.
All three were lodged at Josephine County Jail for warrants, along with multiple new charges from the previous incidents.
UPDATE; LOCATED -Missing Person: Gehrke, Reif (Photo)
- 03/21/26
UPDATE: Reif has been located safely.
CASE: 26-7717
NAME: Reif Gehrke
AGE: 37
SEX: Male
RACE: Caucasian
HEIGHT: 6'0"
WEIGHT: 160
HAIR: Red
EYES: Blue
INFORMATION: On March 20, 2026, Reif Gehrke was last seen at the Murphy Bridge on Williams Highway at approximately 9:00am. Reif was dropped off with his black and green pontoon boat to fish the Applegate River wearing green waders, green tennis shoes, light green sweatshirt, black hat, and sunglasses. Reif was expected to make a phone call when finished with his trip, but never did. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Reif or Reif’s pontoon boat, please call the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.
Please call the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information. 541-474-5131
UPDATE; LOCATED -Missing Person: Gehrke, Reif (Photo)
- 03/21/26
UPDATE: Reif has been located safely.
CASE: 26-7717
NAME: Reif Gehrke
AGE: 37
SEX: Male
RACE: Caucasian
HEIGHT: 6'0"
WEIGHT: 160
HAIR: Red
EYES: Blue
INFORMATION: On March 20, 2026, Reif Gehrke was last seen at the Murphy Bridge on Williams Highway at approximately 9:00am. Reif was dropped off with his black and green pontoon boat to fish the Applegate River wearing green waders, green tennis shoes, light green sweatshirt, black hat, and sunglasses. Reif was expected to make a phone call when finished with his trip, but never did. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Reif or Reif’s pontoon boat, please call the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.
Please call the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information. 541-474-5131
Fugitive Flees Only To Be Apprehended By K-9
- 03/18/26
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: Friday March 13th, 2026, 7:08am
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Schreiber
ARRESTED: 37-year-old, Christopher Michael Harwood
CHARGES: 1- Warrant (PV) original charge Assault on a Peace Officer
2- Escape II
3- Resisting Arrest
4- Interfering with a Law Enforcement Animal
DETAILS: On Friday, March 13th, 2026, at about 7:08am a deputy conducting Forest Service Patrol located two vehicles parked on the side of the road near mile post 3 on Illinois River Road. Both vehicles had trash scattered around them. The deputy contacted a male in one of the vehicles and recognized him as 37-year-old Christopher Michael Harwood. Harwood had a felony, no-bail, warrant for his arrest out of the Oregon State Parole Board wherein the original charge was for Assault on a Peace Officer.
After being told he was under arrest, Harwood kicked out one of the vehicle’s windows and fled on foot down a steep hill toward the Illinois River.
Josephine County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Yana responded and conducted a track/search of the area. Yana located Harwood at the bottom of the hill under a tree near the river and apprehended Harwood. During the apprehension, Harwood attempted to choke the Sheriff’s Office K-9. Yana was uninjured and Harwood was taken into custody. Harwood was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged on above-mentioned charges.
Fugitive Flees Only To Be Apprehended By K-9
- 03/18/26
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: Friday March 13th, 2026, 7:08am
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Schreiber
ARRESTED: 37-year-old, Christopher Michael Harwood
CHARGES: 1- Warrant (PV) original charge Assault on a Peace Officer
2- Escape II
3- Resisting Arrest
4- Interfering with a Law Enforcement Animal
DETAILS: On Friday, March 13th, 2026, at about 7:08am a deputy conducting Forest Service Patrol located two vehicles parked on the side of the road near mile post 3 on Illinois River Road. Both vehicles had trash scattered around them. The deputy contacted a male in one of the vehicles and recognized him as 37-year-old Christopher Michael Harwood. Harwood had a felony, no-bail, warrant for his arrest out of the Oregon State Parole Board wherein the original charge was for Assault on a Peace Officer.
After being told he was under arrest, Harwood kicked out one of the vehicle’s windows and fled on foot down a steep hill toward the Illinois River.
Josephine County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Yana responded and conducted a track/search of the area. Yana located Harwood at the bottom of the hill under a tree near the river and apprehended Harwood. During the apprehension, Harwood attempted to choke the Sheriff’s Office K-9. Yana was uninjured and Harwood was taken into custody. Harwood was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged on above-mentioned charges.
