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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 28, 2006 Deputies shoot man after altercation He and five others suspected in burglary, attack Sunday By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune CAVE JUNCTION — Two Josephine County sheriff’s deputies shot and wounded a Cave Junction man who police say drove a vehicle at one of the deputies during a Sunday night altercation near town, authorities said. Kurtis Korff, 39, of Cave Junction, was shot in the head when deputies opened fire after they tried to halt a vehicle Korff was driving, according to the Oregon State Police. The deputies, whose names were not released Monday, were unhurt, police said. Four other men in the vehicle at the time were not hurt and immediately surrendered to the deputies, OSP Sgt. Jeff Fitzgerald said Monday. Korff was taken to Three Rivers Community Hospital and then air-lifted to the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, the OSP said. Advertisement OSP Lt. Gregg Hastings said Korff was originally listed in critical condition at OHSU, but his condition improved through the day. Further information on Korff was unavailable Monday from OHSU. The five men were all suspects in a Sunday night burglary and attack on a Cave Junction man, who was hit in the face with a gun butt before he escaped and called sheriff’s deputies, Fitzgerald said. Police were searching Monday for a sixth suspect, identified Monday as Sherie Irene Wright, 48, whose last known address was in the Brookings area, the OSP said. Wright is wanted for burglary and assault charges stemming from the original attack in Cave Junction, police said. Wright was considered armed and dangerous, the OSP said. She could be driving a white 1982 Chevrolet Camaro with Oregon license plates similar to YKR-353 or TNZ-338. Anyone with information about Wright was urged to telephone OSP dispatchers at 541-776-6111. The incident began when William Neith, 38, told police a half-dozen people entered his Cave Junction home, held him at gunpoint Sunday and struck him with an undisclosed type of firearm before he was able to escape, police said. While two deputies were outside and interviewing Neith at an area away from his residence, a Honda Civic with five men pulled up and was ordered to stop, police said. The Civic instead backed up and stopped, at which time the driver and Korff, the front seat passenger, changed positions, the OSP said. As the deputies scrambled to their vehicles, one of them slipped in the mud and fell, Fitzgerald said. Korff allegedly "gunned" the engine and drove the Civic toward the deputy, who was able to right himself and fire, Fitzgerald said. No motive for the original home invasion was given by police, though several suspects had previous drug arrests or convictions. Korff has drug convictions dating back to 1991 and served time in the Oregon State Pennitentiary in the late 1990s for drug and child-neglect convictions. The other four suspects in the vehicle were lodged Sunday at the Josephine County Jail. Michael Alan Martinho, 25, no address available, was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, deputies said. He was being held Monday in lieu of $50,000 bail. James Steven Towe, 39, of the 200 block of Conrad Road, Selma, was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and for failing to appear on several drug charges. He was being held in jail Monday in lieu of $70,000 bail. Aaron Dean Yoshiwara, 35, of the 500 block of Water Drive, Cave Junction, was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary and first-degree assault. Yoshiwara, who is also known as "Kinberg," was being held in jail Monday in lieu of $50,000 bail. James Aaron Sherman, 20, no address available, was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and for violating the conditions of his probation from previous assault and weapons convictions. His bail was set at $95,000. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail Deputies shoot man after altercation ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Debt Consolidation Generic Viagra Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Advertisement s Advertisement