US Marshals Arrested Central Point Child Exploitation Task Force Suspect
The United States Marshals Service led Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force tracked down and arrested a wanted Central Point man hiding out in Alturas, California on November 25. The suspect had a felony warrant following a Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) investigation into possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). U.S. Marshals arrested Larry Lynn James Sr., 64, of Central Point, for six counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and four counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. James is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. Investigations led the task force from Central Point to Klamath Falls, and finally to Alturas. U.S. Marshals spotted James’ vehicle and conducted a traffic stop where he was arrested without incident. Modoc County Sheriff's Office assisted. The arrest originated from a search warrant SOCET served December 7, 2023, at a residence in the 6500 block of Blackwell Road in rural Central Point. SOCET served the warrant after discovering numerous CSAM images were uploaded from the residence.
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MPD Detectives Arrested Suspect in Shooting Case
Medford Police Department (MPD) detectives made an arrest in connection with a shooting that occurred on December 5, near the intersection of Marie Street and Stevens Street. On December 11 at approximately 4:35 p.m., MPD detectives, with assistance from the MPD SWAT Team and MADGE, apprehended 19-year-old Audrik Darling of Medford in the Medford Center parking lot. Darling was identified as a person of interest in the December 5 shooting and was also wanted in connection with a separate kidnapping, assault, and unlawful use of a weapon incident that occurred October 11. Darling was interviewed at the Medford Police Department and lodged on charges related to the October incident. On December 12, MPD detectives additionally filed charges related to the December 5 shooting. The firearm believed to have been used in the incident has been recovered. The shooting occurred at approximately 5:46 p.m., when MPD officers responded to reports of gunfire near the intersection of Marie Street and Stevens Street.
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Courier Investigation Shows Public Meeting Law Violation by City
Following an investigation by the Daily Courier and a series of public records requests, the city of Grants Pass admitted it violated public meeting law with behind-the-scenes emails about hiring a facilitator to finish the city manager's performance evaluation. The facilitator would then issue a "report suitable for public release." According to the Courier, such a report would thwart the ability of the press and public to view individual performance evaluations of City Manager Aaron Cubic written by the eight members of City Council. The Courier's request for the performance evaluations is pending. The evaluations will be released after a vote to finalize and adopt them is made at the City Council meeting Wednesday, according to the city recorder. This week, in response to an Oregon Public Meets Law violation grievance filed by the Courier with the city, City Attorney Stephanie Nuttall sent a response to the Courier.
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