Late in the afternoon on March 26th, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received a 911 report of a reckless driver on Crater Lake Highway. The caller reported a red Honda Civic hatchback was speeding, driving in the center lane, and veering into oncoming traffic. Additional callers reported the vehicle nearly caused a head-on crash in White City and cut off an ambulance as it continued north.
Dispatch advised that earlier in the day, citizens had called to report the same vehicle driving recklessly in two different areas of West Medford. Oregon State Police dispatch had also taken a call regarding the vehicle speeding and driving recklessly on Interstate 5 in Medford.
Just after 5:30 pm, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted the vehicle driving north on Highway 62. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, but the driver continued north, initiating a pursuit.
The suspect driver, later identified as 28 yr. old Shadow Lee Newman, stopped his car in the middle of the roadway in Shady Cove and shouted at the deputy. He then continued driving north in a reckless manner. Newman stopped again in the middle of the roadway and shouted at the deputy again.
Newman refused to obey commands from the deputy and continued driving, reaching speeds of 90 miles per hour. As Newman’s vehicle began smoking heavily and eventually caught fire. When the vehicle slowed, the deputy was able to execute a PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuver, causing Newman’s vehicle to stop on the shoulder.
Newman resisted deputies’ efforts to take him into custody. A TASER was used to control Newman’s movements and deputies were able to place him in handcuffs. He was transported to jail without further incident. The case will be forwarded to the DA’s Office for prosecution and to review for additional charges.
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