The Grants Pass Police Department received a report Sunday, October 22nd, of a shoplifter after the suspect was observed by store security leaving the area in a large U-Haul truck after allegedly stealing over $1,000 in merchandise.
Officers later located the U-Haul stopped in a parking lot near Mill Street. In an effort to prevent the suspect, later identified as Jerry Glover, from fleeing, officers attempted a driving maneuver designed for that purpose. However, Glover struck a Grants Pass Police Department patrol car and pushed it out of the way while making concerted efforts to avoid arrest.
Glover then sped west on NE D Street in his continued efforts to elude the officers. Due to the weather conditions and Glover’s driving behavior, officers terminated the pursuit due to risk to the public.
Despite no longer being pursued by the officers, Glover was observed continuing west on D Street at a high rate of speed before striking another motorist after improperly entering the intersection.
The U-Haul rolled over, trapping Glover underneath the cab; it was believed Glover had not been wearing a seatbelt causing him to be ejected from the truck.
The other motorist, in a small SUV, came to a stop in a yard a block away where he was extricated from his vehicle by Fire personnel and transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center with injuries.
Fire personnel, along with Grants Pass Police officers, were able to extricate Glover from under the U-Haul. He was also transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center with trauma injuries. Both Glover and the other motorist were treated at the Medford-area hospital and are expected to recover from their injuries.
52 year old Jerry Glover has been charged with Theft 1, Reckless Driving, Attempting to Elude Police Officer, Assault 3, Criminal Mischief 1, and DUII.
This case is still under investigation and anyone with information on the crash or theft is asked to call the Grants Pass Police Department at 541-450-6260.
