At approximately 1:40 am, August 14th, Officers from multiple agencies attempted to stop a vehicle after receiving information about a reportedly intoxicated driver on Hwy. 99 beginning in Ashland and heading north to Talent.
The driver refused to yield, fleeing northbound on Hwy. 99 while driving extremely recklessly. Ashland Police Officers did not pursue the vehicle but continued to keep it in view as it continued toward Talent. Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Talent and Phoenix Police Departments contacted the driver and vehicle again after it stalled and came to a stop alongside Hwy. 99 just south of the Talent city limits.
Officers and deputies attempted to order the driver from the vehicle. The driver refused to comply and physically resisted attempts to remove him from the vehicle. During the struggle to remove the driver from the vehicle a taser was deployed at the driver.
After the driver was removed, he was found to have sustained several self-inflicted stab wounds to his neck. Medics from Fire District 5 and Ashland Fire & Rescue were immediately brought in to render aid. The man did not survive and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Though the driver died from self-inflicted wounds, his death is considered to have happened while in the custody of police officers given the circumstances.
The Jackson County’s Major Assault/Death Investigation Unit team is responsible for investigating all in custody deaths and the Medford Police Department has been designated as the lead agency on this case.
Several body-worn cameras and in-car cameras recorded the entire event. All recordings are being made part of this investigation.
This incident caused Hwy. 99 between Arnos and Creel to be closed to traffic until approximately 8:00 am.
