Car Crash Leads To Arrest In Jackson County: Sheriff

CENTRAL POINT, OR — A rollover car crash in a rural area north of Medford in Southern Oregon took an even more dramatic turn when the driver involved pulled a gun and then fought with Jackson County deputies before he was finally arrested.

Jacob Benjamin Hefner, 35, of Prospect, was taken to Jackson County Jail and charged with possession of methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and driving while suspended. He is also being held on probation violations and is ineligible for bail.

A Jackson County Sheriff's Office deputy was dispatched just after 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20 to a rollover crash in the 9600-block of Blackwell Road, which runs parallel to Interstate-5 near Medford. At the scene of the crash the deputy found a blue Kia Sedona minivan had gone off the road, into a ditch, and then through a fence into the backyard of a home.

The crash reportedly occurred moments after the minivan driver — later identified as Hefner — was seen driving recklessly in the area.

Hefner remained at the crash afterward and was speaking with a Fire District 3 emergency responder when the deputy arrived. According to deputy, Hefner and the firefighter were standing on opposite sides of a wire fence.

As the deputy approached, he saw Hefner was bleeding from the nose and mouth. Almost immediately, Hefner voluntarily told the deputy he had no license, the deputy wrote in a probable cause affidavit obtained by Patch. Hefner did, however, tell the deputy his real name.

The deputy turned to retrieve latex gloves from his patrol car, but when he went back to the wire fence Hefner was gone.

As the deputy moved around the fence and closer to the minivan, he could reportedly see Hefner quickly moving about the interior through the windows. As a precaution, the deputy drew his service weapon, he said.

When Hefner got out of the van the deputy reported seeing something in his hand — something Hefner was trying to conceal. The deputy quickly realized it was a stainless steel revolver, he said.

Hefner began shouting, but the deputy said he wasn't sure what Hefner was saying. In response, the deputy told Hefner to drop the gun; Hefner refused.

As the deputy and Hefner moved cautiously around the van, the deputy reportedly continued to command Hefner to drop the gun. It wasn't until the deputy appeared ready to shoot, however, that "Hefner abruptly dropped to the ground and set the gun next to him in the dirt," the deputy wrote.

Commanding Hefner to lay on his stomach, the deputy moved closer until he stood between Hefner and the revolver, threatening to shoot Hefner if he made a move toward the gun. During this time, the deputy said Hefner remained somewhat uncooperative; he repeatedly shouted "just shoot me" and wiggled continuously.

As a second deputy arrived to help with the arrest, a brief scuffle took place and a folding knife reportedly fell harmlessly from one of Hefner's pockets.

Once they had Hefner in custody, the deputies continued their search for any more weapons but instead found a sunglasses case holding 12.5 grams of crystal meth and an assortment of ammunition in various calibers.

Additionally, the revolver Hefner had was reported stolen from Medford in September, the deputy said. Hefner reportedly told the deputies he traded meth for the gun days before the crash.

With regards to the crash, Hefner said he was "trying to pass a car and 'woke up' after the wreck," the deputy wrote.

(Sign up for our free daily newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Oregon Patch)

Hefner's criminal history is almost exclusive to Jackson County, where he's been charged with driving under the influence, possession of meth, theft, and driving while suspended multiple times. Following a year-long incarceration for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in Curry County in 2010, Hefner stayed out of trouble in Oregon until March 2017.

Since then, Hefner's been charged with misdemeanors twice and felonies three more times.

Image via Jackson County Sheriff's Office