On Wednesday, August 19th, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety received a call from employees at Walmart advising they had located an abandoned backpack containing several silver coins, a firearm and several ammunition magazines.
While officers were responding, the employees called back and advised there was an individual in the store claiming to be the owner of the backpack describing the individual as agitated and yelling.
When the description of the subject was provided, it was determined to be the same subject from a burglary that had been reported over the weekend. During the burglary, the suspect was seen with a firearm inside of the residence while committing the crime where several coins were taken.
It was also known to officers that the suspect, 37 year old Todd Alan Word, had an active felony warrant for his arrest out of the Colorado Department of Corrections for flight/escape as well as a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history. Aaware of this officers responded to Walmart after requesting several additional officers due to the concern for the safety of the public based on Words criminal history and known possession of firearms.
As officers arrived on scene, they contacted Word who immediately fled on foot and ran in and out of the store before being tackled by officers in the parking lot. Word refused to comply with officers commands and attempted to break free while also actively fighting with officers who were trying to detain him. At the same time a vehicle known to be associated with Word, and identified at the scene of the previous burglary, drove up to the officers as they were on the ground struggling to take Word into custody.
A female, later identified as the girlfriend to Word, began to step out of the vehicle. Officers challenged the female as she was getting out of the vehicle and advised her to not interfere with the arrest. It was not known at that time if the girlfriend was involved with the previous crimes and there was concern for the safety of the officers and the public as she approached while the officers were still trying to secure Word who was still actively fighting.
Word was eventually placed in handcuffs and the girlfriend was also detained until officers could determine if she was involved in this incident or the previous burglary. There were also two younger children in the car at the time of this incident, which was not initially known to the officers when the vehicle approached them. Officers calmed the children and explained to them and the girlfriend what had happened and the actions taken. The girlfriend was eventually released at the scene while the case is still being investigated. There are no charges against her at the time of this release.
Word claimed to be having medical issues as a result of his flight and possible use of illegal narcotics. Word was later transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Community Hospital where he was treated and released. Word was transported and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on multiple charges and additional charges are anticipated with regards to possession of the firearm.
The backpack was recovered by officers on scene and the firearm was secured. This case is still active and detectives are following up with additional evidence.
