Early Thursday afternoon, March 9th, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a disturbance with shots fired at a residence on Terrace Heights Drive in Selma at approximately 1:22pm.
First responding Deputies were advised while in route, that a male subject entered the victim’s residence, pointed a firearm at the victim then fired a round into the victims refrigerator before leaving on foot back to his residence. Both the subject and the victim live in different residences on the same property.
The victim was not injured and advised that the individual, later identified as 38 year old Ryan Gregory Vanhoy, possessed numerous weapons and body armor.
Two Deputies arrived on scene and contacted the victim. It was at this time, Vanhoy exited his residence with a firearm and started to approach the Deputies on foot. Based on the distance between Vanhoy and the Deputies location, the Deputies were able to tactically retreat off the property preventing a potential use of deadly force with Vanhoy.
Having to retreat off the property, the Deputies were forced to leave their patrol vehicles at the location with Vanhoy still on foot in the area. The victim was also able to retreat to safety.
Numerous other Deputies responded to the area to locate the Deputies who had retreated. Once located, a plan was put in place to respond back to the incident location and retrieve the patrol vehicles which contained department issued weapons and “Gibbs” the Sheriff’s Office therapy and compassion K-9.
While responding back to the incident location, Deputies encountered the Vanhoy in his vehicle which had crashed over the embankment on Terrace Heights Drive. Announcements were given to Vanhoy to exit his vehicle, however he refused, stating he was armed with a shotgun and had cut both of his wrists. After several more announcements, Vanhoy exited his vehicle and stood next to the open vehicle door and yelled at Deputies to shoot him. Three less lethal bean bag rounds were deployed striking Vanhoy and incapacitating him long enough for Deputies to take him into custody without further incident.
With Vanhoy secured, Deputies continued to the incident location to retrieve the two patrol vehicles. The patrol vehicles were located, both having sustained several shotgun rounds through both of the windshields, hoods and engine compartment. K-9 Gibbs was located unharmed. At this time, it is believed the metal shell of the kennel installed in the police vehicle prevented the shotgun rounds from penetrating and injuring him.
Search warrants were executed at Vanhoy’s residence and his vehicle. Numerous firearms including a shotgun along with body armor were located and seized as evidence.
At the time of this press release, Vanhoy was being treated at a local hospital for the self-inflicted injuries to his wrists, and Deputies remained with Vanhoy until he was discharged from the hospital. He was then transported and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on multiple charges including 1st Degree Burglary, Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Firearm), Menacing, 1st Degree Criminal Mischief as well as Attempted Assault of a Police K-9.
This investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.
