On Thursday, January 31st, at about 11:30 p.m., Medford Police officers and Medford Fire-Rescue personnel responded to a structure fire on Happy Valley Drive.
The fire caused significant damage to a detached garage, as well as a wood fence separating two residences. Medford Fire-Rescue were able to put out the fire before it spread to nearby residences which were occupied.
Officers found a neighbor’s security camera which caught a suspect lighting the garage on fire, however the suspect’s description was limited due to darkness and partially blocked views.
On February 1st, 2019, detectives responded back to the address and found further evidence of arson activity on the property. The investigation led them to an occupied steel shed on the property. The person inside threatened officers with a firearm and would not come out.
SWAT personnel, members of our Crisis Negotiation Team and an employee from Jackson County Mental Health responded to the scene. Personnel were able to establish communication with the individual, who was identified as Terry Day. Day had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Detectives obtained a search warrant to enter the shed.
Negotiators were unable to convince the suspect to exit the shed, which was heavily fortified. SWAT officers used a breaching charge to get the door partially open. SWAT officers deployed gas inside the shed which did not get the suspect to exit. Officers saw Day light a fire inside the shed, and personnel were able to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers provided by Medford Fire-Rescue, who were on scene. Eventually, officers entered the shed and arrested the male. No firearms were found. The entire stand-off lasted about 4 1/2 hours.
Detectives were able to link Day to the arson case the previous evening. Day was transported to jail and lodged on numerous charges.
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