Public Safety

Two people have been lodged at the Klamath County Jail on attempted murder charges after deputies responded Tuesday night to a shooting report on Sprague River Road. One person was treated for a gunshot wound, and investigators say one suspect remains at large.

Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler says the county jail will close its basement housing unit beginning July 1, reducing operational capacity from about 292 beds to 230. Sickler said rising medical, staffing and operational costs have forced difficult decisions across the agency.

Mount Shasta Police Chief Robert Gibson says online misinformation about a rumored data center has led to threats of violence against city leaders, staff and their families. Gibson said the city has no interest in pursuing the proposal and warned that threats are criminal acts, not protected speech.

A Josephine County homicide investigation is underway after authorities say a woman was found dead in a remote area near Upper Deer Creek Road outside Selma. Investigators say poor cell service and an unclear location complicated the initial search. A 42-year-old man has been arrested on manslaughter and firearm charges.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating the death of Onalea Clay, 59, of Wimer, after authorities say a man reported shooting a woman during a domestic violence altercation at a rural Sykes Creek Road home.

An 81-year-old Central Point woman died Wednesday evening after she was struck by a vehicle in a Phoenix business parking lot. Police said bystanders and first responders attempted life-saving measures, and the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

A Klamath Falls man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to illegally distributing explosive devices, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. Prosecutors say investigators later seized more than 200 homemade explosive devices, firearms and methamphetamine during searches in Klamath Falls.

A Klamath Falls man died Monday night after being struck by a commercial vehicle on Highway 97 near Chemult, according to Oregon State Police. Investigators believe Scott Henry Beggio had entered the roadway while attempting to catch his dog.

Phoenix police are urging residents to use caution after a bear continued to linger near Fern Valley Road and Grove Road, where officers say it appears to be growing more comfortable around people, traffic and the city environment.

A Texas fugitive wanted on a felony warrant related to child sex crimes was arrested Tuesday near Agness after a weeklong search by Curry County deputies, Oregon State Police and U.S. Marshals.

The Oregon Court of Appeals has overturned Robert Paul Keegan’s 2023 manslaughter conviction in the shooting death of Aidan Ellison, sending the case back to Jackson County Circuit Court.

A family safely escaped a Gilman Road home Sunday night after reporting a burglary in progress and shots fired by the homeowner. Medford Police say the suspect was found wounded inside the residence and taken into custody.

Klamath County Fire District 1 crews trained with the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office on surface and swift water rescue operations in Klamath Falls, using the exercise to remind residents to wear personal flotation devices around local waterways.

An illegal marijuana grow hidden inside a rural Central Point pear orchard was raided this week, leading to the seizure of about 25,000 plants, 16,000 pounds of usable cannabis and additional plants from hoop-style greenhouses, according to JCSO.

Firefighters worked through the night on the Yoss Creek Fire north of Chiloquin, keeping the human-caused fire at approximately 8 acres. SCOFMP says the fire is fully lined, with no structures threatened and no road closures reported.

A Bonanza woman was killed Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 39 at the South Side Expressway intersection near Klamath Falls, according to Oregon State Police.

Rural Metro Fire says a fast mutual-aid response helped stop the West Jones Fire at 17 acres Monday evening near Grants Pass. Several homes were threatened along West Jones Creek Road and Rancho Vista Drive, but officials said all residences were protected.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying a woman whose body was found June 8 on Klamath National Forest property near Hawkinsville. Officials said the woman had dyed red hair, no visible tattoos, and was believed to be between 45 and 55 years old.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office says illegal grow enforcement efforts are continuing, with NSMIT reporting 332,871 marijuana plants eradicated in 2025 and another 903 plants removed during a June 4 warrant in Mount Shasta Vista.

The West Jones Fire evacuation has been reduced from Level 3 “GO NOW” to Level 1 as crews make progress northeast of Grants Pass. Rural Metro Fire says the fire remains estimated at 8 to 10 acres, with crews continuing to protect homes and Rancho Vista Drive still closed due to emergency vehicle traffic.

All Oregon Department of Forestry districts are now in fire season, triggering prevention reminders and local restrictions across the state. In Southern Oregon and Northern California, agencies are also updating fire danger levels, burn rules and equipment-use restrictions as conditions dry out.

Chad McPherson has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty in a Prospect homicide case and a related animal abuse investigation, according to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

Medford Police arrested an 18-year-old man Thursday after a reported stabbing on Greenwood Street left a 40-year-old man hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

A Central Point elder mistreatment investigation has led to animal abuse and neglect charges after police say more than 60 cats were found inside a Valley Oak Boulevard home, including several that were deceased. Investigators said hazardous conditions required officers and animal control staff to wear protective suits and respirators.

A Williams man is facing multiple potential charges, including DUII and third-degree assault, after a quad ATV crash injured three people, including two juveniles. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office says the case has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution review.

The Oregon State Police is leading an investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting Friday morning in Klamath Falls. Authorities said Klamath Falls police responded to a domestic disturbance and welfare check request on East Main Street, where officers encountered an armed adult male. A minor child was injured during the incident and is in stable condition.

A Siskiyou County traffic stop on May 29 led to the discovery of 18 kilograms of suspected cocaine valued at $1.9 million, according to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the suspected drugs were found inside an aftermarket hidden compartment after a Mount Shasta Police Department K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics.

Medford police are investigating an animal neglect case after officers responding to a welfare check Thursday in the 1800 block of Roxy Ann Place found evidence that led to a search warrant. Investigators said multiple live and deceased cats were later located on the property, with Jackson County Animal Control taking custody of the surviving animals.

A Roseburg man has been sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison after investigators uncovered more than 740,000 child sexual abuse files in what Oregon officials described as one of the largest such cases in recent state history.