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 NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH THE LOCATION AS IT IS NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.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.
19-Year-Old Falls, Drowns At Local Ashland Area Swimming Hole
-06/27/25
JCSO Case 25-3388
ASHLAND, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to a call for a drowning last night at a swimming hole located off of Dead Indian Memorial Road outside Ashland. Next-of-kin has been notified. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. No suspicious circumstances were observed on scene, we will not be releasing decedent information out of respect for the family’s privacy in this difficult time.
JCSO deputies responded Thursday, June 26 at 7:19 PM to the rock quarry reservoir in the 500 block of Keno Access Road outside of Ashland. The initial investigation revealed a 19-year-old man reportedly fell from a cliff at the water’s edge and disappeared into the deep water. JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) responded to recover his remains. JCSO Medical Examiner detectives arrived to investigate. There is no additional information available at this time.
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Vehicle Elude Through Medford Ends In Arrest
-06/27/25
JCSO Case 25-3378
MEDFORD, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies and Medford Police Department (MPD) officers arrested a suspect yesterday after she attempted to elude during a traffic stop. The suspect, Whittney Ann Word, 32, a Medford area transient, was booked and lodged in the Jackson County Jail. She is charged with attempting to elude in a vehicle, recklessly endangering, and reckless driving. The passenger in the vehicle, William Clifford Sanders, 51, a Medford area transient, interfered with the arrest and was booked and lodged in the Jail. He is charged with interfering with a peace officer, and resisting arrest.
Thursday, June 26 at 1:04 PM at the intersection of 10th Street and Fir Street in Medford, a JCSO deputy observed a vehicle run a stop sign and nearly strike a bicyclist. The deputy activated lights and sirens and the suspect vehicle eluded at slow speeds. After observing the vehicle run multiple stop signs and with no traffic in the immediate area, the deputy received permission to perform a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to disable the vehicle. A PIT maneuver is a technique utilized to end police pursuits when vehicles are eluding law enforcement.
The PIT maneuver was unsuccessful and the vehicle continued eluding onto Barnett Road. At that point speeds increased to approximately 60 miles per hour. The suspect ran a red light at the intersection of Barnett Road and Riverside Avenue nearly colliding with a vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued eluding until the deputy performed a successful PIT maneuver near the intersection of East Barnett Road and Highland Drive. MPD arrived to assist and helped take the suspect into custody. The passenger interfered with law enforcement during the arrest. Both suspects were transported to the Jail. This case in under further investigation, there is no additional information available for release at this time.
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Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Arson Suspect For Lighting Fire Near 2-Acre Red Blanket Road Fire, Grand Jury Indicts On All Charges (Photo)
-06/24/25
JCSO Case 25-3233
PROSPECT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies arrested a Prospect man for intentionally starting a fire Wednesday, June 18 in the Red Blanket Road area east of Prospect. JCSO deputies located the man Thursday, June 19 in the 44000 block of Highway 62 in Prospect. The suspect barricaded briefly in a house before deputies arrested him without incident at 12:32 PM.
The suspect, Allen Lee Bicknell, 51, a Prospect area transient, is charged with first-degree arson and reckless burning. A Jackson County Grand Jury indicted Bicknell on all charges the morning of Tuesday, June 24. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail.
Wednesday at 1:57 PM, Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters responded to a fire on Red Blanket Road east of Prospect. During an aggressive initial attack, an ODF firefighter reported observing a suspect, later identified as Bicknell, in the area of the fire acting in a suspicious manner, but he fled on foot. Firefighters reported the sighting to JCSO and were able to stop the original fire at an estimated two acres. JCSO deputies responded to continue the investigation while also assisting in the firefighting efforts.
This case is open and ongoing with deputies and ODF investigating. There is no further information available for release at this time.
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Illegal Marijuana Task Force Arrests 19-Year-Old Man For Selling Black Market Marijuana To Middle Schoolers Via Social Media
-06/12/25
JCSO Case 25-2889
MEDFORD, Ore. - Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives along with Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies arrested a 19-year-old man Saturday, May 31, for selling cannabis to middle school aged juveniles. The suspect, Jake Eugene Cunningham, 19, of Medford, is charged with one count each of unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful delivery of marijuana.
IMET detectives observed Cunningham selling marijuana to juveniles in the Rogue Valley Mall parking lot on May 31 at 3:11 PM. IMET detectives began their investigation after receiving information that Cunningham was selling cannabis and black market “Dab” vape pens to juveniles as young as 11 years old. Cunningham set up drug deals with juveniles through Instagram and Snapchat. This case is an important reminder for parents to stay vigilant on their child’s social media activity.
If you would like to report a suspected crime involving marijuana, call the IMET tip line at (541) 774-8311 or email IMETtips@jacksoncountyor.gov. This case is open, there is no further information available for release.
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Detectives Arrest Suspect For Murder Following Suspicious Death Investigation In Prospect, Grand Jury Indicts On All Charges (Photo)
-06/10/25
JCSO Case 25-2972
PROSPECT, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives are investigating a suspicious death that occurred Thursday, June 5 outside Prospect. JCSO Patrol deputies responded to a call for a victim with a gunshot wound at 1:27 AM at a residence in the 2000 block of Shelly Drive. JCSO deputies detained a suspect when they arrived on scene.
A Mercy Flights ambulance transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. JCSO detectives and Medical Examiners arrived and took over the investigation. The victim is JR Anthony Monteleone III, 47, of Prospect. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
The suspect, Chad Allen McPherson, 32, of Prospect, is charged with second-degree murder, and felon in possession of a firearm. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. A Jackson County Grand Jury indicted McPherson today, June 10 on all charges.
Oregon State Police (OSP) Crime Lab, OSP detectives, JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office responded to assist with the investigation.
The timing of this release was delayed so JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers could conduct an evidence search. The SAR team searched the area on Monday, June 9 and successfully located critical evidence. Thank you to the efforts of our SAR volunteers.
This case is active and ongoing with detectives following additional leads. There is no additional information for release at this time.
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Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Murder Suspect On Hwy 62 Traffic Stop Following Suspicious Death Investigation In Phoenix (Photo)
-06/06/25
JCSO Case 25-2970
PHOENIX, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies and detectives arrested a murder suspect this morning during a traffic stop on Highway 62 near Vilas Road in Medford. JCSO deputies arrested the man in connection to a suspicious death turned murder investigation that occurred in Phoenix earlier this week. The victim is Julie Renee Hastings, 60, of Phoenix. Our condolences go out to her family and friends.
The suspect, William Irvin Hastings, 60, of Eagle Point, is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree abuse of a corpse. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail.
The investigation began after JCSO Patrol deputies responded to a welfare check Wednesday night at a residence in the 4000 block of South Pacific Highway outside of Phoenix. JCSO deputies forced entry into the residence, found the victim deceased, and identified suspicious circumstances at the scene. JCSO detectives and Medical Examiners responded and took over the investigation. Oregon State Police (OSP) Crime Lab, Jackson County District Attorney’s office, Medford Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, and OSP detectives responded to assist with the investigation.
This case is active and ongoing with detectives following additional leads. There is no further information available for release at this time.
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Electric Dirt Bike Crash Kills Juvenile Rider
-06/06/25
JCSO Case 25-2983
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – A motorcycle and an electric dirt bike collided last night killing the juvenile dirt bike rider. ECSO Dispatch received a 911 call Thursday at 8:56 PM for a crash that occurred near the intersection of Ross Lane and Old Stage Road in rural Central Point. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies, Oregon State Police, and Jacksonville Police Department responded along with a Mercy Flights ambulance.
Next-of-kin has been notified. We will not be releasing decedent information due to the rider’s age and out of respect for the family’s privacy in this difficult time. Our condolences go out to the family and friends.
Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team responded to investigate the incident. The motorcycle rider is cooperating with the investigation and no criminal charges have been filed at this time.
The STAR Team consists of investigators from JCSO, Medford Police Department, Central Point Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. This case is open and ongoing. There is no further information available for release at this time.
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