On Tuesday, March 29th, Detectives from the Grants Pass Police Department were conducting follow up investigation regarding several calls received by 911 dispatchers early Monday morning March 28th, reporting gunshots and screams coming from the Riverside Park near the 6th and 7th street bridges. Responding officers initiated a criminal investigation and confirmed shots had been fired during the disturbance and that nobody had been injured during the shooting.
While in the area of 200 Lewis Ave., Tuesday, officers observed the suspect from the shooting incident and as patrol officers and detectives were responding into the area, the suspect, Albert “AJ” Humphrey, began to drive out of the area. Officers deployed spikes strips and attempted to stop Humphrey.
Humphrey drove over the spike strips, then fled at a high rate of speed in an attempt to elude in the vehicle. Humphrey continued out Lewis Avenue and began driving the wrong way on 6th street, heading toward the Cavemen Bridge. Other officers were responding to the area as Humphrey continued north over the bridge, against the flow of traffic. Due to the threat to the public, officers did not pursue Humphrey the wrong way up 6th street.
As Humphrey was crossing the Caveman Bridge, another Grants Pass Officer in a marked patrol vehicle was driving south on 6th on the north side of the bridge. Due to Humphrey driving against the flow of traffic at a high speed, the officer attempted to drive into Humphrey’s vehicle in order to prevent him from harming anyone else. Humphrey swerved and struck the curb of the bridge and continued driving against traffic before colliding with a white Toyota RAV4 that was driving south, and had pulled over as the officer was passing by.
Humphrey then fled from the crash on foot through the Riverside Inn parking lot toward 5th Street. Officers established a perimeter as Humphrey was being chased on foot. Humphrey was eventually located and taken into custody without further incident.
The driver of the other vehicle was treated and released at the scene. The victim vehicle was disabled and had to be towed. Humphrey is being lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the above charges.
The case remains under investigation and further information will follow. Anyone who witnessed this incident or was driving on 6th street when Humphrey was eluding is asked to contact the Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260.
