Article Preview: Our View: Getting a handle on Medford's mean streets - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2015-09-28

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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining       ...       Bumper crop       ...       Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes       ...       Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining       ...       Bumper crop       ...       Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes       ...           OUR VIEW Our View: Getting a handle on Medford's mean streets MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 24, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Sep. 24, 2015 @ 12:01 am »  Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> What might be described as the prime-time drive-by shootings have a west Medford neighborhood on edge. Not only have three incidents occurred in the space of three weeks, only blocks apart, but they happened in the evening hours when people were awake and children were about. The first of the three shootings happened at 10 p.m. Sept. 9; the other two were at 7:11 p.m. Sept. 16 and 8:04 p.m. Sept. 20. So far, no one has been killed or wounded, despite multiple shots being fired. Whether that's the result of good luck or bad marksmanship is hard to know, but if the shootings continue it's only a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed. Residents on Narregan Street, where two of the shootings happened, are taking steps to make their neighborhood safer. Some are organizing a neighborhood watch group, and urging their neighbors to talk to each other and report suspicious activity to police. Another resident, whose sons were apparent targets of some of the shots, says she's moving. It's hard to blame her, but it's a shame anyone feels compelled to leave a neighborhood because they don't feel safe. Residents say they suspect gang activity is going on in a couple of houses on the street. They need to communicate those observations police, and officers should spend extra time watching those houses. Neighbors are the best source of information because they are there when police can't always be. Beyond that, Medford needs to take a no tolerance policy for this kind of behavior. Charge anyone arrested in these cases with the stiffest possible charges, and work to put away those convicted for as long as possible. Would-be gang bangers need to know they will face time behind bars. Three suspects have been arrested in the Sept. 16 incident, but Tyler Sandoval, 17, believed to be the shooter, and Santiago Flores-Loveland, 18, remain at large. No arrests have been made in the Sept. 9 or Sept. 20 incidents. If Sandoval and/or Flores-Loveland are responsible for all these cases, finding and arresting them may put a stop to this mayhem, at least for a while. Police say Flores-Loveland has a warrant for his arrest for walking away from the Oregon Youth Authority, where he was being held after a previous drive-by shooting. He's now 18; when he's caught this time, authorities need to make sure he's put in a place he can't walk away from. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 24, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments   /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501