CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) search and rescue (SAR) will host a two-day class to teach people how to rescue large animals in emergency situations. SAR staff and volunteers will attend, but the course is also offered to the public, free of charge.
The Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER) course will be held February 2 and 3, 2019, at the Jackson County Expo, Olsrud Arena, in Central Point. The course, taught by Rebecca M. Gimenez, Ph.D., teaches responders how to rescue livestock and other large animals in a variety of scenarios and conditions.
Those who wish to attend MUST RSVP by January 30, 2019. Contact Staci Thornton at JCSO SAR by email (ntsr@jacksoncounty.org">thorntsr@jacksoncounty.org) or by phone (541-864-8830). An informational flyer is attached to this release.
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Note: Attached photos are from a JCSO SAR horse rescue on May 5, 2018, in Trail (Case #18-8923).
ROGUE RIVER, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies believe both impairment and distracted driving contributed to a Wednesday morning crash that caused a power outage north of Rogue River. The 3000-block of East Evans Creek Road was partially closed while Pacific Power workers repaired power lines damaged in the crash.
On January 9, 2019, at 12:35 a.m., dispatch received a 911 call from a neighbor who heard the crash and noticed a power outage. JCSO deputies, along with personnel from the Rogue River Police Department and the Rogue River Fire District, responded to the scene.
Deputies determined the vehicle, a white 2014 Jeep Compass, was northbound on East Evans Creek Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway. The vehicle struck a power pole and came to rest in a ditch. The power pole was heavily fractured with power lines hanging near the ground.
The driver, Allison Leigh Coulter, 24, of Rogue River, was not injured. Deputies believe both alcohol impairment and cell phone use contributed to the crash. Deputies arrested Coulter for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) and reckless driving. A breath test showed Coulter’s blood alcohol content was 0.14%. She was cited and released.
Case #19-00560
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JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – A 19-year-old woman is lodged in jail on several charges Monday morning after leading a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputy on a pursuit to her home, and then brandishing an SKS-style rifle. After a short standoff, the woman was taken into custody. The weapon turned out to be a pellet gun.
On Monday, January 7, 2019, at 3:35 a.m., a deputy attempted to stop a 2000 Cadillac Escalade for traffic violations on Highway 238 near Humbug Creek Road. The vehicle accelerated and continued to a residence in the 100-block of Humbug Creek Road.
The female driver, later identified as Shayna Joy Stanford, 19, parked the vehicle in the driveway and ran into the residence. She reappeared at the doorway moments later pointing a rifle outside.
Stanford refused to come out of the home. Deputies negotiated with Stanford for approximately 15 minutes and, with the assistance of her parents, convinced her to step outside. Stanford physically resisted arrest as deputies took her into custody. Nobody was injured.
Stanford was lodged in the Jackson County jail on the following charges: driving under the influence of intoxicants (alcohol); reckless driving; attempting to elude police in a vehicle; attempting to elude police on foot; menacing; resisting arrest. Bail at lodging was $32,500.
Case 19-00422
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MEDFORD, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler will be formally sworn into office on Friday, January 4, 2019.
Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia will administer the oath of office to Sheriff Sickler in Courtroom 202 at 8:00 a.m.
Members of the local media are invited to attend the ceremony.
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JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies arrested 14 people for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) during a 19-day holiday saturation patrol period. Of the 14 people arrested, four were involved in motor vehicle crashes and ten were contacted during traffic stops.
From December 13 to 31, 2018, deputies focused their patrols on rural roadways in an effort to spot drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The saturation patrols are part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign sponsored by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Grant funding allows JCSO to put extra deputies on the road to enforce impaired driving laws without taking away from response to normal calls for service.
Because the designated saturation period ended on December 31, the above statistics do not include arrests made after midnight on New Year’s Day. Deputies did respond to three crashes on the morning of January 1, 2019, that each resulted in a DUII arrest.
In one case, deputies driving through Central Point at 3:30 a.m. came across a vehicle that had crashed into a bank of mailboxes and came to a stop partially in Rock Way (case #19-00012). The driver, Sean Lee Lansing, 26, of Medford, was unconscious and behind the wheel with the vehicle still in gear. He was found to be uninjured but heavily impaired.
Following arrest, Lansing provided a breath sample that showed a blood alcohol level of 0.19%. Lansing was charged with felony DUII and misdemeanor driving while suspended (DWS). He was also cited for driving with an open container of alcohol.
The next grant-funded DUII saturation patrols are planned for the weekend of Super Bowl Sunday – February 1 to 4, 2019. Deputies say it’s never too soon to plan ahead to avoid impaired driving.
For more information on the NHTSA Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, go to the NHTSA website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/es/drunk-driving/holiday-season-drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over .
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JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – With the seasonal closure of many mountain roads comes a reminder to travelers: don’t forget to use common sense when using driving directions from GPS or cell phone map apps! Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) search and rescue (SAR) deputies have already responded to calls involving people who followed directions provided by their phone’s mapping system – and ended up stranded on closed or unmaintained roads.
Many forest roads are closed to cars during the winter months. An example is National Forest Road 37 – a popular route during the summer that connects drivers from Highway 140 near Fish Lake to the Ashland area via Dead Indian Memorial Road. The road is not maintained or patrolled and is closed to motor vehicle traffic, as indicated by several signs posted on either end.
“It may look like a shortcut on a map, but in the winter, Forest Road 37 is essentially a snowmobile trail. It is not to be used by regular vehicles,” said JCSO Sergeant Shawn Richards.
Sergeant Richards says much of the road closure area is also outside of cell phone range, making it difficult or impossible to call for help. And because the road is closed, someone who becomes stranded there likely won’t encounter a passerby.
The same is the case for many forest roads in Jackson County. They are not plowed or otherwise maintained through the winter months. Sergeant Richards says it’s best to stick to highways and heavily traveled roads.
Drivers are reminded to be prepared for an emergency any time they are driving in the winter. Keep food, water, blankets, and other gear in your vehicle. Start your trip with a full tank of gas. Before you start driving, check the weather forecast as well as road conditions on your planned route (tripcheck.com).
Prevention is the key to staying safe on winter roads. But even if you find yourself experiencing a bout of bad luck, it does not necessarily warrant a call to SAR. For example, if your vehicle gets stuck in snow or mud, it may not be a true emergency.
“If you know where you are, you’re uninjured, and you’re able to use your cell phone, it’s more appropriate to call for a tow truck than to call 911,” said Sergeant Richards.
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Update, 12/23/18:
The decedent was identified as Tori Lynn Anderson, 25, of Shady Cove.
The case remains under investigation.
Original release, 12/22/18:
SHADY COVE – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies are investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on Highway 62 early Saturday morning. The single vehicle crash at the Shady Cove city limits killed one passenger; the driver and a second passenger were taken to the hospital.
On December 22, 2018, at 2:29 a.m., dispatch received a 911 call reporting a crash on Highway 62 just south of Brophy Way. A northbound 2017 Honda Accord sedan left the roadway and crashed into the back of a semi-truck trailer parked on the shoulder.
A 25-year-old Shady Cove woman riding in the front passenger seat was partially ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Investigators say she was not wearing a seat belt.
The driver, Cody Dylan Lowe, 24, of Shady Cove, was transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center (RRMC) for treatment for a possible arm fracture and other minor injuries. He was wearing a seat belt.
The back seat passenger, Tyler Robert Van Houten, 25, of Shady Cove, was transported to RRMC for treatment for minor injuries. He was not wearing a seat belt.
JCSO detectives, a medical examiner investigator, and members of the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) team responded. At the time of the crash, the roadway was not affected by ice or other weather-related conditions. Deputies are investigating whether impairment contributed to the crash.
The identity of the decedent will be released at a later time to allow family and friends to be notified. No further information is available for release.
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JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Scammers posing as officials from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) are using familiar tactics with a new twist in an attempt to scam people out of money. On December 18, 2018, deputies began receiving reports from people contacted by phone by men identifying themselves as JCSO employees.
The scam caller claims the intended victim has a warrant for failing to appear in court, and then demands payment for fines. The caller provides a phone number for the person to call back with payment. After payment is made by phone, the victim is directed to appear at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
One victim appeared in JCSO lobby on the morning of December 19 and reported she paid $2500 to someone who called her and identified himself as a JCSO employee. She was directed to purchase prepaid debit cards and provide the numbers to the scammer over the phone. When the woman reported in person to JCSO, she learned it was a scam. Others have called to report the scam, but did not lose money.
“We’ve seen scams like this before,” said Sergeant Julie Denney. “But this one is different because the scammers are also using an official-sounding recording to trick people into believing that JCSO is taking payments over the phone.”
If a person calls back the original phone number that appeared on the victim’s Caller ID, they are greeted by a computerized voice identifying as the “Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.” The scam recording (follow link for recording) states that the agency no longer accepts payments for fines and restitution via cash, checks, or credit/debit cards – only by a “secure electronic voucher system.” The recording then directs the caller to press a number to be connected with a live person.
“It’s during that one-on-one contact with the scammer that people are manipulated into believing they have a warrant and need to pay their fines to avoid being arrested,” said Sergeant Denney.
JCSO officials say it’s important for people to know that their employees will never call people to let them know they have warrants or to request any form of payment. Legitimate businesses and government agencies will not request payment by prepaid debit cards.
Officials also remind people to not focus too much on specific scam tactics; scammers often change their methods over time:
- Scammers can easily obtain new phone numbers and will change them often.
- Scammers may use “spoof” programs to make the Caller ID show an agency’s actual phone number.
- Scammers may use the names of actual JCSO employees to make the call seem legitimate.
- Scammers may obtain personal information about a victim online including their name, address, phone number, and the names of others in the home.
- Scammers may initially contact victims by mail, email, or through social media.
Sergeant Denney says prevention is the most important way for citizens to battle scams. Due to the technology used in the scam – and the fact that scammers can be located anywhere in the world – it is virtually impossible to track the scammers or to get money back.
“If anyone has any question about a possible scam call, they should call dispatch at (541) 776-7206 and ask to speak to a deputy,” said Sergeant Denney. “The most important thing is to not send any money.”
For more information about common scams, go to the Federal Trade Commission website at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts . People can also sign up for consumer alerts and scam updates by email.
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JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Local law enforcement agencies are teaming up to help prevent crashes involving distracted driving. Through Saturday, personnel from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and Medford Police Department (MPD) will be watching for drivers affected by cell phones and other distractions.
“The goal is to bring awareness to the problem and to hopefully prevent tragedies around the holidays,” said JCSO Sergeant Heath Kocina.
Deputies say impaired driving is commonly acknowledged as a problem during the holiday season, but it isn’t the only traffic concern. Distractions such as cell phones and winter weather conditions like fog and rain compound the danger to motorists. As people head out to finish their holiday shopping and attend events, more vehicles clog roadways, increasing the potential for crashes.
The patrols will focus on busy roadways – especially those near or leading to popular shopping areas – between December 18 and 22, 2018. Grant funding earmarked for the enforcement of distracted driving laws allows law enforcement agencies to add overtime patrols without taking away from regular calls for service.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving led to the deaths of 3,450 people in the United States in 2016. Deputies urge drivers to ditch the distractions and keep their eyes on the road.
Since October 2017, Oregon law has prohibited drivers from any “hands on” cell phone use while driving. Updates to the law since July 2018 create steeper penalties, especially for repeat offenders. A first offense that doesn’t contribute to a crash is a Class B violation with a maximum fine of $1,000. A second offense (or a first offense that contributes to a crash) is Class A violation with a maximum fine of $2,000. A third offense in ten years can be charged as a Class B misdemeanor, which could result in a maximum fine of $2,500 and six months in jail.
For more information on Oregon’s distracted driving laws, go to https://www.oregon.gov/odot/safety/pages/distracted.aspx .
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