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 17^th, 2026

INCIDENT: Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash

CASE NUMBER: 26-22325

INCIDENT DATE / TIME: August 17^th, 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.

UPDATE: LOCATED - Missing Person: Lewis, Osiris Jaxon (Photo) - 08/15/26

UPDATE: LOCATED - MISSING PERSON: LEWIS, OSIRIS JAXON
 

DATE OF REPORT: 08/13/2026

CASE: 26-21992

NAME: Osiris Jaxon Lewis

AGE: 16

SEX:  Male

RACE: White

HEIGHT: 5'10"

WEIGHT: 140

HAIR: Red/Bleached

EYES: Brown

INFORMATION: On 08/13/2026 we received a report that Osiris Jaxon Lewis had run away from their home located in O’Brien on 8/9/2026. Osiris does not have an active phone and was riding a black bike with a gold seat and brown hand grips. Osiris is known to frequent Grants Pass.

Please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123 with any information. 

Flock Contract Cancellation - 08/12/26

RELEASE DATE: August 12, 2026

INCIDENT: FLOCK Contract Cancellation

REPORTING DEPUTY: Sheriff Dave Daniel

DETAILS: 

The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has been in contract with an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) company named FLOCK.  A contract for 10 cameras was entered into to increase the ability to identify/locate stolen vehicles, wanted or missing subjects associated with a specific vehicle and in general enhance the ability to investigate crimes.

In recent months some of the equipment and technology has been targeted and vandalized.  There has been a great deal of public concern over this technology and its potential infringement of Constitutional 4^th Amendment rights. Many jurisdictions across the United States have run into the same situation of theft, damage and social concern resulting in numerous cancellations of contracts with FLOCK.  Josephine County is no different.  While the technology has been beneficial in solving crime and overall public safety, it is clear much of Josephine County is not ready or willing to accept the use of ALPR technology.

We at the Sheriff’s Office work for the public and we are listening to you.  As a result, I have requested Josephine County Legal Counsel to send a “contract termination for convenience” letter to FLOCK.  Effective immediately, FLOCK ALPRs are no longer activated in rural Josephine County and the contract with the Sheriff’s Office has ended.  While some of the equipment is still in the field, it is not being used.  It is unknown when FLOCK will remove their equipment at this time.

Thank you for your continued support of the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.  We will continue to “Protect with Courage and Serve with Compassion”.

Drowning / Reid Litwack Recovery (Photo) - 08/10/26

RELEASE DATE: August 10, 2026

INCIDENT: Drowning / Reid Litwack Recovery  

INCIDENT DATE / TIME: 08/07/2026, 11:14am  

REPORTING DEPUTY: Undersheriff Snyder 

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 1:16pm, 911 received a message from a Garmin GPS device stating there was a rafting accident at Wildcat Rapid in the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River, and they were unable to locate the rafter. It was reported that 65-year-old Reid Litwack, was in an inflatable raft when it got pinned in the rapid where he was swept underwater and never surfaced. Garmin was able to assist dispatchers with communicating with the rafting party while Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Search and Rescue (SAR) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) personnel developed a plan to rescue the rafting party.

At 5:30am the following morning, Deputies and BLM personnel made their way out to the rafters’ location, hiking for several hours to reach them.  The party was able to hike themselves out of the area, and BLM made arrangements to float their belongings and equipment further down river and placed it in safe keeping to be retrieved at a later time.  Between the time of the initial report and the rescue, Reid never resurfaced.

On Friday, August 7, 2026, at 11:14am, 911 received a message from another GPS device stating an unrelated rafting party had discovered a body in the river downstream from the initial incident. Deputies, SAR and BLM began a recovery mission putting a raft in at Grave Creek.  BLM was able to skillfully and quickly navigate the river and reach the location after a 2-hour float where they and Deputies attempted to find the body based off information relayed in the text message.  Unfortunately, markers left to assist them were no longer there and after an extensive search of the area, they were unable to locate the body.

On Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 10:46am, Deputies once again put in Grave Creek to search.  At 2:01pm, Dispatchers received a satellite text from our Deputies that the body had successfully been located and recovered. SAR was notified and met Deputies at Black Bar Lodge to assist with transportation.

Investigators believe this to be Reid Litwack, however, confirmation will still need to be completed with the assistance of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.  Next of kin have been notified.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Reid during this difficult and sad time.

We would like to recognize and thank our BLM partners along with our SAR Volunteers and Black Bar Lodge for their assistance in coordinating this recovery.

This is a reminder that when rafting or enjoying the river, please make sure you are prepared for medical emergencies and have alternate forms of communication in rural areas.  Additionally, share your routes and expected return time with someone before leaving. 

ORIGINAL INFORMATION:

Date of Report: 8/4/26

Case: 26-21169

Name: Reid Litwack

Age: 65

Sex: Male

Race: Caucasian

Height: 5'4"

Weight: 140

Hair: Red/Grey

Eyes: Blue

Information: Ried was last seen on Tuesday August 4th at Wild Cat rapid in the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River while on a rafting trip. Reid was last seen wearing a red long sleeve shirt with a hood and green pants. The photo was taken during the rafting trip. If you have any information as to his whereabouts, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, 541-474-5123. 

UPDATE: Missing Person: Wright, David (Photo) - 08/06/26

RELEASE DATE: August 6, 2026

INCIDENT: Missing Person, 71-year-old David M. Wright

REPORTING DATE: July 26, 2026

REPORTING DEPUTY: Detective Sergeant Henrich

DETAILS:

On July 26, 2026, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office received a report of missing adult, David Wright. The initial investigation indicates that David left on his own accord on July 21^st between 8:00am and 1:30pm on a white bicycle, leaving his cell phone and personal financial documents on the desk in his office.

On July 27, 2026, Detectives with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office continued their investigation and located camera footage of David at Dollar General in Murphy around 9:25am on the bicycle, where he purchased a bottle of water. Around 9:30am, additional footage was observed of Wright riding his bicycle outbound on Highway 238 towards Hidden Valley Market. This was the last time Wright was seen in the area.

Detectives have continued searching daily since his disappearance. Cameras and roadways in all the surrounding areas, including Provolt, Williams, and Wilderville have been searched.  Search and Rescue was activated to assist and Detectives worked with a group of citizens that initiated a search party. TSA and Homeland Security have been contacted to check for any domestic and international flights he might be on. At this time, it’s unknown if Wright continued past the Murphy area on the bike or not, and there is no indication of what direction he went after the last time he was picked up on camera.

At this time, based on the investigation, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has no evidence that a crime has occurred. If anyone in the area has any further information that would lead to the safe return of David Wright, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-5123.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are currently being released.

***

ORIGINAL INFORMATION:

Date of Report: 07/26/2026

Case #: 26-20107

Name: David Wright

Age: 71

Sex: Male

Race: Caucasian

Hair: White

Eyes:  Blue

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 160

Information: David was last seen at Jubilation Fellowship Church in Murphy, OR on 7/21/2026 around 8:00am. David likely left the church on a white Genesis mountain bike wearing a tan short sleeve shirt and plaid shorts. It is unknown where David may have gone, however was seen on security footage at Dollar General in Murphy around 9:30am that same day.

If you have any information on David’s whereabouts, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, 541-474-5123.