EDIT: Marine Incident / Body Recovery (Photo)
- 09/14/26
There is a typo in the 1st sentance. It should read: On Friday, September 11, 2025 at 1:23pm, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was notified of a body located in the Rogue River at Baker Park.
RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2026
CASE NUMBER: 26-24851
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: September 11, 2026, 1:23pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Marine Deputy
DETAILS: On Friday, September 11, 2025 at 1:23pm, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was notified of a boy body located in the Rogue River at Baker Park.
Deputies and Fire personnel arrived on scene and made contact with the individuals who originally made the call to 911. The body was located in the main channel of the Rogue River at Baker Park.
The Jackson County dive team was activated to assist with the recovery of the body. The idividual has not been identifed and next of kin has not been notified. The Josephine County Medical Examiner will be continuing their investigation to identify the individual.
EDIT: Marine Incident / Body Recovery (Photo)
- 09/14/26
There is a typo in the 1st sentance. It should read: On Friday, September 11, 2025 at 1:23pm, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was notified of a body located in the Rogue River at Baker Park.
RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2026
CASE NUMBER: 26-24851
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: September 11, 2026, 1:23pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Marine Deputy
DETAILS: On Friday, September 11, 2025 at 1:23pm, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was notified of a boy body located in the Rogue River at Baker Park.
Deputies and Fire personnel arrived on scene and made contact with the individuals who originally made the call to 911. The body was located in the main channel of the Rogue River at Baker Park.
The Jackson County dive team was activated to assist with the recovery of the body. The idividual has not been identifed and next of kin has not been notified. The Josephine County Medical Examiner will be continuing their investigation to identify the individual.
ATV Crash - Fatal (Photo)
- 09/14/26
INCIDENT: ATV Crash
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: 09/12/2026 12:15pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Schreiber
VICTIM: Fell, Barry, 58-year-old
DETAILS: Deputies, AMR and Fire Personnel responded to Monument Drive near Mary Harris Way for a report of an ATV crash.
Once on scene a male, Barry Fell, was found with serious injuries after crashing an ATV. Barry was transported by AMR to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Next of kin have been notified. We would like to express our deepest condolences to Barry’s family and friends during this difficult time.
No further information will be released.
ATV Crash - Fatal (Photo)
- 09/14/26
INCIDENT: ATV Crash
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: 09/12/2026 12:15pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Schreiber
VICTIM: Fell, Barry, 58-year-old
DETAILS: Deputies, AMR and Fire Personnel responded to Monument Drive near Mary Harris Way for a report of an ATV crash.
Once on scene a male, Barry Fell, was found with serious injuries after crashing an ATV. Barry was transported by AMR to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Next of kin have been notified. We would like to express our deepest condolences to Barry’s family and friends during this difficult time.
No further information will be released.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash - Merlin Road (Photo)
- 09/14/26
RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2026
INCIDENT: Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash
CASE NUMBER: 26-22325
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: September 11, 2026, 8:18pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Topham
DECEASED: Starke, Scott, 88-year-old
DETAILS: Deputies responded to a vehicle vs pedestrian crash near the 2600 block of Merlin Road. A Geo Metro car was traveling east on Merlin Road when the vehicle hit a male pedestrian. The driver of the Geo Metro stayed on scene.
The pedestrian was identified as Scott Starke, who was transported to an area hospital and later succumbed to his injuries.
This case is still an active investigation and pending results of evidence, charges will be referred to the District Attorney’s Office.
Next of kin has been notified.
We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Scott’s friends and family during this difficult time.
No further information will be released at this time.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash - Merlin Road (Photo)
- 09/14/26
RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2026
INCIDENT: Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash
CASE NUMBER: 26-22325
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: September 11, 2026, 8:18pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Corporal Topham
DECEASED: Starke, Scott, 88-year-old
DETAILS: Deputies responded to a vehicle vs pedestrian crash near the 2600 block of Merlin Road. A Geo Metro car was traveling east on Merlin Road when the vehicle hit a male pedestrian. The driver of the Geo Metro stayed on scene.
The pedestrian was identified as Scott Starke, who was transported to an area hospital and later succumbed to his injuries.
This case is still an active investigation and pending results of evidence, charges will be referred to the District Attorney’s Office.
Next of kin has been notified.
We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Scott’s friends and family during this difficult time.
No further information will be released at this time.
Update - Located: Missing/Runaways - Bungart, Nevaeh & Albert (Photo)
- 08/31/26
UPDATE: Nevaeh and Albert have both been located safely.
Date of Report: 8/27/26
Case: 26-23375
Name: Nevaeh Bungart
Age: 15
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 105
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Name: Albert Bungart
Age: 13
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 110
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Information: Nevaeh and Albert were last seen leaving the Cave Junction area on foot on 8/26/2026 at approximately 8:30pm. Their direction of travel is uncertain. Nevaeh was wearing a gray shirt with lettering, and black pants when she left. Nevaeh has a nose ring and pierced ears. Albert was wearing a white shirt with black or grey shorts on. They were also carrying backpacks.
If you have any information, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123.
Update - Located: Missing/Runaways - Bungart, Nevaeh & Albert (Photo)
- 08/31/26
UPDATE: Nevaeh and Albert have both been located safely.
Date of Report: 8/27/26
Case: 26-23375
Name: Nevaeh Bungart
Age: 15
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 105
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Name: Albert Bungart
Age: 13
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 110
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Information: Nevaeh and Albert were last seen leaving the Cave Junction area on foot on 8/26/2026 at approximately 8:30pm. Their direction of travel is uncertain. Nevaeh was wearing a gray shirt with lettering, and black pants when she left. Nevaeh has a nose ring and pierced ears. Albert was wearing a white shirt with black or grey shorts on. They were also carrying backpacks.
If you have any information, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123.
Major Crimes Investigation (Photo)
- 08/20/26
RELEASE DATE: August 20, 2026
INCIDENT DATE: August 19, 2026
REPORTING DEPUTY: Detective Sergeant Kile Henrich
ARRESTED: Eric Commins, 59-year-old male
VICTIM: Alejandro Soto, 38-year-old male
CHARGES: 1 - Assault I
2 - Unlawful use of a Weapon
DETAILS: On August 19, 2026, at 7:46 am, deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence in the 300 block of Cherokee Lane in Grants Pass for a report of a male being shot in the chest. Upon arrival, deputies detained multiple individuals, to include the suspect, and render aid to the victim.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the scene and began their investigation. Investigators identified the suspect in this case as Eric Commins. Commins had fired multiple rounds from a .22 caliber pistol at the victim inside the residence. Commins cooperated with the investigation and was later arrested and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the above listed charges.
The victim, Alejandro Soto, was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.
At the time of this press release, no other details are being released.
Major Crimes Investigation (Photo)
- 08/20/26
RELEASE DATE: August 20, 2026
INCIDENT DATE: August 19, 2026
REPORTING DEPUTY: Detective Sergeant Kile Henrich
ARRESTED: Eric Commins, 59-year-old male
VICTIM: Alejandro Soto, 38-year-old male
CHARGES: 1 - Assault I
2 - Unlawful use of a Weapon
DETAILS: On August 19, 2026, at 7:46 am, deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence in the 300 block of Cherokee Lane in Grants Pass for a report of a male being shot in the chest. Upon arrival, deputies detained multiple individuals, to include the suspect, and render aid to the victim.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the scene and began their investigation. Investigators identified the suspect in this case as Eric Commins. Commins had fired multiple rounds from a .22 caliber pistol at the victim inside the residence. Commins cooperated with the investigation and was later arrested and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the above listed charges.
The victim, Alejandro Soto, was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.
At the time of this press release, no other details are being released.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash
- 08/17/26
RELEASE DATE: August 17th, 2026
INCIDENT: Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash
CASE NUMBER: 26-22325
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: August 17th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Lieutenant Jim Geiger
DECEASED: Mark Freeland, 68 years old
DETAILS:
On August 17, 2026, at approximately 2:08 p.m., 9-1-1 received a report of a vehicle crash in the 2500 block of Coyote Creek Road.
First responders arrived and located a single vehicle that had left the roadway and struck a large tree. The driver, identified as Mark Freeland, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The initial investigation indicates the vehicle was traveling outbound on Coyote Creek Road when, for an unknown reason, it left the roadway and collided with the tree.
Next of kin has been notified.
No further information is available at this time.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash
- 08/17/26
RELEASE DATE: August 17th, 2026
INCIDENT: Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash
CASE NUMBER: 26-22325
INCIDENT DATE / TIME: August 17th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
REPORTING DEPUTY: Lieutenant Jim Geiger
DECEASED: Mark Freeland, 68 years old
DETAILS:
On August 17, 2026, at approximately 2:08 p.m., 9-1-1 received a report of a vehicle crash in the 2500 block of Coyote Creek Road.
First responders arrived and located a single vehicle that had left the roadway and struck a large tree. The driver, identified as Mark Freeland, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The initial investigation indicates the vehicle was traveling outbound on Coyote Creek Road when, for an unknown reason, it left the roadway and collided with the tree.
Next of kin has been notified.
No further information is available at this time.
