In May of 2022, Jerry Lee Thacker, now a 57-year-old Roseburg man, was arrested on charges of Rape, Sodomy, Unlawful Sexual Penetration and Sexual Abuse. The alleged victim was a 13-year-old juvenile female and Roseburg resident. On January 9, 2024, Thacker failed to appear for trial resulting in a warrant for his arrest. The Roseburg Police Department began an investigation into Thacker’s whereabouts at that time. Using intelligence gathered during that effort, investigators came to believe Thacker fled to Knoxville, Tennessee and was living with a family member. Our agency reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service in Oregon and requested assistance in apprehending Thacker. The U.S. Marshals Service agreed to take the case and within a short period of time, located Thacker and served the warrant by taking Thacker into custody in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Thacker was lodged at the Knox County Jail in Tennessee pending extradition. The Roseburg Police Department is very appreciative for the assistance of The U.S. Marshals Service in this case.
On November 12, 2024 at approximately 8:30 PM, the Roseburg Police Department, along with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the 200 block of SE Pine Street, an area referred to as “The Point,” regarding a reported stabbing. When officers arrived, they found 31-year-old Jesse Otha Thomas lying on the bike path with multiple stab wounds. Thomas was transported to Mercy Medical Center by Umpqua Valley Ambulance, with non-life threatening injuries and later released.
The suspect in this case, 45-year-old Joshua Daniel Saunders, fled the scene but was located along the South Umpqua riverbank with the use of a FLIR thermal imaging device. After a multi-hour standoff, Saunders was tased and taken into custody without further incident. Saunders was lodged at the Douglas County Jail for Assault 1 and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
The Roseburg Police Department would like to thank the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Umpqua Valley Ambulance for their assistance.
No further details are being released at this time.
On November 9th at 0315 hours, the Roseburg Police Department responded to multiple reports of gunfire in the 1200 block Hamilton Street, in Roseburg. The responding officers located and identified the shooter as 25 year old Austin Adrian Wall. The responding officers also located Ryan Dale Burchell ( 50 years of age), who sustained several gunshot wounds. The officers on scene began life saving efforts for Burchell until relieved by paramedics. Burchell was transported to Mercy by ambulance, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries at approximately 0921 hours.
The Douglas County Major Crimes team, which includes the Roseburg Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, has been activated and a comprehensive and ongoing investigation is occurring. Based on the preliminary investigation, Wall was taken into custody for Murder II and was lodged at Douglas County Corrections.