Coos County, Oregon – A tragic head-on collision on Friday, April 18, 2025, claimed the lives of an Umpqua Community College softball player and coach, leading to the arrest of the man accused of causing the crash. Johnathan James Dowdy, 34, was booked into the Coos County Jail on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree manslaughter and several counts of assault and reckless endangerment. According to the Oregon State Police (OSP), Dowdy’s vehicle struck a bus carrying members of the Umpqua Community College softball team. The collision, which occurred on a rural stretch of highway, resulted in the deaths…
Author: Sarah Prescott
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Auriel Scattergood, a man accused of brutally attacking and murdering his partner in Ashland in 2021, was found guilty except for insanity on Friday. The ruling, delivered by Circuit Court Judge Laura Cromwell, determined that Scattergood was suffering from a severe mental health disorder at the time of the incident, which led him to believe he was Jesus Christ. The tragic events unfolded on September 15, 2021, when Scattergood assaulted his partner, Meghan Rodriguez, with a bladed weapon at their home on Eagle Mill Road. During the attack, Scattergood also assaulted their roommate, Jon David, and…
ASHLAND, Ore. – Local fire crews are currently responding to a fire on Lowe Road in Ashland, Oregon, after a burn pile got out of control, igniting surrounding flammable material. Ashland Fire and Rescue’s battalion chief confirmed the incident, which has prompted a swift response from the department to contain the fire. The blaze, which began earlier this afternoon, was initially sparked by a burn pile that spread beyond its intended boundaries. Firefighters are working to prevent the flames from reaching additional structures and nearby vegetation. The battalion chief indicated that the situation remains active, with crews on-site assessing the…
Douglas County, Ore. – Two members of Umpqua Community College’s (UCC) softball program were tragically killed in a car accident on Friday evening while returning from a game in Coos Bay, the college confirmed in a statement on Saturday morning. Several other individuals, including students and staff, were injured in the incident and remain hospitalized. According to Umpqua Community College, the accident occurred on the evening of April 18, as the group was traveling back from the away game. The college confirmed that the victims included one student-athlete and one coach. Their identities have not been released as of Saturday…
ASHLAND, Ore. – A 34-year-old Ashland man is facing numerous charges after a series of violent incidents that took place earlier this month. James David Lee Hergett was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail, where he remains with bail set at $750,000. Hergett was indicted by the Jackson County Grand Jury on Thursday, facing a range of serious charges, including first- and second-degree kidnapping, coercion with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing domestic violence, second-degree attempted assault, harassment, and first- and third-degree sex abuse. The Ashland Police Department (APD) first responded to a report on April…
Medford, OR – In a unanimous decision, Oregon lawmakers voted on Tuesday to add digitally created or altered images to the state’s “revenge porn” law, marking a significant step toward addressing the growing issue of AI-generated and digitally manipulated explicit content. The bill, known as House Bill 2299, was approved by a 56-0 vote in the Oregon House and now heads to the state Senate for further consideration. The bill seeks to make it illegal to create or distribute digitally altered images—particularly those involving nudity or sexually explicit content—without the subject’s consent. If passed, Oregon will become the 32nd state…
Grants Pass, Ore. – In a move aimed at addressing the city’s growing homelessness crisis, the Grants Pass City Council voted six to two on Wednesday night to approve the addition of two new resting sites for unhoused individuals. The new sites, located at 714 NW 6th St and 711 NW 6th St, are set to expand the city’s existing network of designated spaces for people experiencing homelessness. These two new sites, which will add 55 and 44 spaces respectively, are situated adjacent to the current site at 704 NW 6th St. While all three sites will remain separate, their proximity…
ASHLAND, Ore. – A 34-year-old Ashland man, James David Lee Hergett, is currently in the Jackson County Jail following a series of violent incidents this month that left multiple individuals injured and led to several serious charges. Hergett was indicted by the Jackson County Grand Jury on Thursday, facing a slew of charges including first- and second-degree kidnapping, coercion with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing domestic violence, second-degree attempted assault, harassment, and first- and third-degree sex abuse. The first incident occurred on April 8, when the Ashland Police Department (APD) received a report alleging that Hergett had…
Medford, Ore. — A proposed bill in the Oregon Legislature, Senate Bill 238, is reigniting a contentious debate between law enforcement and civil rights groups over the balance between public safety and privacy. The bill, which has already passed through the state Senate, would significantly expand the use of drones by law enforcement in the state, allowing police to deploy drones in response to any 911 call or emergency situation deemed a threat to public safety, without the need for a warrant in many cases. Under the current law, drones are primarily used by police to assist with active crime…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – A Grants Pass man is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with a March incident that left another man with significant head trauma. The victim, a 57-year-old man, was transported to a local hospital on March 4 after sustaining the injuries. According to Grants Pass police, the man’s condition deteriorated over the following weeks, ultimately leading to his death. As a result, the case was handed over to the Major Crimes Unit for further investigation, and it was later reclassified as a homicide. After weeks of investigation, authorities identified 30-year-old James Ross as a suspect…