Multiple local law enforcement agencies assisted Oregon State Police (OSP) in tracking down an elude suspect last night around 6:20 p.m.
Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon ECSO 911 notified Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies that OSP was involved in an elude near 1-5 southbound exit 48.
The pursuit was originally initiated by Grants Pass Police Department (GPPD) and they had probable cause to arrest the man for elude and two counts of reckless driving.
The vehicle stopped in the middle of the exit 48 off-ramp and the driver fled toward Depot Bridge. Rogue River Police officers and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office deputies spotted the man jumping into the Rogue River in an attempt to get away. The suspect swam across the river and attempted to conceal himself in brush on an extremely steep embankment. There was no way to get to the suspect on foot due to the thickness of the brush and the steep embankment.
A JCSO Marine unit and two Medford Police Department K9 officer’s responded. Multiple JCSO deputies and a Medford K9 boarded the boat and contacted the man.
The suspect cooperated with deputies once he saw the boat and K9 pull up approximately five feet below him.
The suspect, William Allen Tweet, 34, of Grants Pass, was taken into custody without further incident and was found to have a felony parole board warrant out for his arrest. JCSO detectives assisted GPPD by transporting and lodging Tweet in the Josephine County Jail.
Officials say there is no further information available for release at this time.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: JCSO
