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Grand jury says off-duty Medford officer justified in killing knife-wielding shoplifter Grand jury says off-duty Medford officer followed the law when he killed knife-wielding shoplifter Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 3:34 PM Updated Feb 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM Surveillance video from Sportsman's Warehouse and Pennzoil 10 MInute Oil Change and car wash show an agitated, knife-wielding shoplifter shot by an off-duty Medford police officer on Jan. 18, 2016. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 3:34 PM Updated Feb 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Shoplifter slashed at off-duty Medford officer before fatal shooting, police say... • Man shot allegedly by officer was holding a knife, witness says... » Social News A Jackson County grand jury ruled a Medford off-duty police officer was justified when he shot and killed a knife-wielding shoplifter Jan. 18 near the Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change in north Medford. The grand jury heard testimony from 19 witnesses Wednesday and deliberated just seven minutes before determining Sgt. Darrell Graham was justified in killing Timothy Joseph Alex Caruthers, 27, of Medford. Graham, a 19-year veteran of the Medford force, had not been involved in a fatal shooting before, Interim Chief Randy Sparacino said. Graham has worked in patrol and with the K-9 patrol unit and was promoted to sergeant three years ago. Jackson County District Attorney Beth Heckert said she believed five hours of witness testimony gave grand jury members time to formulate their thoughts on the case. "I think they take it very seriously," Heckert said. Caruthers was wearing a large jacket and carrying a backpack when he was caught shoplifting a hat and gloves at Sportsman's Warehouse the afternoon of Jan. 18. When store personnel asked to search Caruthers, he became unruly and was adamant he didn't take anything, employees testified. "He was being loud and disruptive," Heckert said. Graham, who was shopping in the store, identified himself as a police officer twice and asked Caruthers to cooperate, which seemed to calm him, Heckert said. Inside the store's loss prevention office, Caruthers refused to be searched for weapons, but pulled a folding knife out of his pocket and placed it on a bench next to him. When store staff said they were calling police, he grabbed the knife, opened the 3-inch serrated blade with his teeth and made a swiping motion toward employees. Employees testified they believed that if they didn't get out of Caruthers' way, he would have stabbed them, Heckert said. At least one employee yelled "knife" after Caruthers fled the office down a hallway. Graham was still at the customer service counter when Caruthers ran near him. Graham drew his duty pistol and told him to drop the knife. Caruthers ran toward the front door. As Caruthers fled, a balaclava (winter hood) in a cardboard box belonging to the store fell out of his coat. Graham pursued him, yelling that he was a police officer, he was armed, and to drop the knife. Heckert said that although witnesses each remembered different commands, all recalled them being loud and direct. "Sgt. Graham's commands were very loud and very clear," Heckert said. "He was yelling commands continually." Caruthers ran into moving traffic on Highway 62, and was almost struck by a vehicle as cars screeched to a stop. A civilian leaving the AT&T store nearby assisted in the foot chase after overhearing Graham shout, "I have a gun," at Caruthers. The man was about to attempt to tackle Caruthers when Graham warned him, "He has a knife." The man followed Graham and Caruthers across the street to the parking lot near Crater Car Wash and Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change. Graham continued issuing commands and keeping a distance between 3 and 10 feet as he and Caruthers reached an area in the parking lot near a Dumpster. Graham testified he believed Caruthers was planning to run through a nearby open field to Lava Lanes, but instead Caruthers turned toward him holding the knife. Graham testified he believed Caruthers would stab him and shot him two times, first in the chest, then in the head. Caruthers fell to the ground. Caruthers never spoke to the officer, Heckert said. At one point the civilian shouted, "Hey man, it's not worth it," but Caruthers refused the advice, saying it was something he had to do. Heckert said Graham intended only to keep eyes on Caruthers' location until on-duty police could arrive, but he had to use deadly force after Caruthers turned toward him with the knife held chest high. Graham testified that he was unsure whether the second shot hit Caruthers, and held him at gunpoint until a patrol officer arrived, then obtained first-aid supplies from a patrol vehicle while the officer performed CPR. Emergency personnel pronounced Caruthers dead at the scene. A pair of gloves with the tags still on them were found in Caruthers' jacket. Medical examiners determined the bullet to the chest killed Caruthers. The second bulled entered Caruthers' nose and exited at his neck. A deputy medical examiner testified the face wound with immediate medical attention would not have been fatal. Roseburg-based detective Raymond Dube with Oregon State Police reviewed Graham's training records, police records and surveillance videos from the incident and testified that a knife-wielding suspect can cover a wide distance in a second. Graham was placed on paid administrative leave, as is protocol in officer-involved shootings. Sparacino said Graham is "doing very well" and will return to work after a brief integration period, which gets the officer familiar with different aspects of police work to ensure they're ready to return. "It gives them an opportunity to ease themselves back into the force," Sparacino said. During the time away from the force following a shooting, officers typically undergo counseling, speak to pastors or other resources available to them, Sparacino said. "They've done significant things to ensure their well-being during their time off," Sparacino said. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. Mark Freeman contributed to this story. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 3:34 PM Updated Feb 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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