Shotgun blast wounds Jo County deputy - December 25, 2004

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2005-01-27

Document text

43 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005   Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery   SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion - Politics   Tempo   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   SPECIAL SECTIONS   Since We Asked   Outdoor Journal   Menu Guide   How To Guide   Wellness Connection   Readers' Choice   Real Estate Showcase   Real Estate Guide   Joy Magazine   Homelife Magazine   Wedding Guide   Passport to the Rogue Valley   EXTRA   Newspaper in Education   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   Volunteer Opportunities   Moving to Southern Oregon?   MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad  eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities   Entertainment   Publications   Recreation   Calendar   CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit   Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 25, 2004 Shotgun blast wounds Jo County deputy By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune GRANTS PASS — A sheriff’s deputy was recovering from a gunshot wound Friday while the man suspected of shooting him was in jail. A shotgun blast hit Tim Cockrum, a reserve deputy for the Josephine County Sheriff’s Department, late Thursday while deputies responded to a reported domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Sleepy Hollow Loop. Treated at Three Rivers Community Hospital for wounds to his arm and side, Cockrum was in good condition and was expected to return home today, said Sheriff Dave Daniel in a prepared release. Richard Dean Dalessio, 44, was arrested on two counts of attempted murder and one count of first-degree assault, said Oregon State Police Lt. Kurt Barthel. Investigators believe Dalessio fired seven shots at Cockrum and three other deputies accompanying him on the 9:40 p.m. call, Barthel said. Dalessio may have been suicidal and hoping deputies would shoot back, Barthel said. However, deputies fired no shots, he added. "I don’t think they had a clear view of what was going on," Barthel said. "I think it just caught them all by surprise." Dalessio apparently was standing behind some cars parked in front of his house when he opened fire, Barthel said. After Cockrum was struck by the shot, deputies took cover behind a nearby fence, he added. Advertisement Dalessio was inside the house for at least two hours before surrendering to police, Barthel said. He was the only person on the property, and there are no other suspects, Barthel said. Investigators served a search warrant on the residence and recovered the firearm and spent shell casings, the lieutenant added. Cockrum has served as a reserve officer with the sheriff’s department for about three years, Barthel said. He was on patrol with a full-time sworn deputy Thursday night, Barthel said. A new recruit accompanied by a training officer also responded. The last police shooting in the Rogue Valley took place in March when OSP trooper Nick Neville of Medford was wounded in a stand-off with a wanted man at Valley of the Rogue State Park near Interstate 5. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives  |  Site Map   E Southern Oregon  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback   ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers