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JACKSON COUNTY Jackson County Sheriff's Department racks up 15 vehicle chases in October Sheriff's department has hands full with fleeing suspects, stolen vehicles Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 29, 2015 at 3:25 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 29, 2015 at 3:25 PM » Social News A Thursday-morning motorcycle chase in White City was short-lived, about three minutes from when police first tried to pull the vehicle over to when it crashed. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department says deputies tried to pull 37-year-old Domingo Luis Valderabano over at the intersection of Kirtland Road and High Banks Road just northeast of Central Point at 1:27 a.m. Valderabano did not oblige, pulling away at about 90 mph. Deputies gave chase, but Sgt. Christine Bronson said Valderabano crashed minutes later at Kirtland near Pacific Avenue when he failed to negotiate a turn. Valderabano was hospitalized briefly for minor injuries, then taken to the Jackson County Jail, where he remained Thursday without bail for elude, reckless driving, contempt of court and a probation violation. Chases like this become commonplace for the department lately. October saw 14 other case where sheriff's deputies were the primary department giving chase. "There are probably a couple more that other agencies have been involved with that aren’t included in those numbers," says Capt. Nathan Sickler. "As long as I’ve been here, this is the most we’ve had in a short period of time that I can remember." Deputies have also responded to 14 reports of stolen vehicles in October, though not all were tied to chases. Six were reported in one day, Oct. 12. "We certainly don't like spikes in anything," says Sheriff Corey Falls. "We are paying attention to this, and hopefully it doesn't continue." Details on the elude cases vary. On Oct. 9, deputies found themselves on a 100-mile chase into Douglas County after 26-year-old Crescent City resident Eduardo Luis Ramos allegedly opened fire on a Jackson County resident in the 100 block of Riley Road near Eagle Point during a suspected robbery. His flight ground to a halt when his vehicle ran out of gas near Diamond Lake. Ramos remains in the Jackson County Jail on more than $1 million bail on charges of first-degree robbery, elude, unlawful use of a weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and an out-of-county warrant. His alleged partner in the crime, 37-year-old Crescent City resident Jeremiah James Haynes, also remains in jail on similar charges. He reportedly fled in a stolen vehicle, but was not chased by police. That vehicle was found abandoned, and Haynes was located less than a mile away. Five days later, deputies had to split up so they could chase down two men in separate cars. Police said Gregory Ryan Taylor, 25, led police on a quick chase through Eagle Point in a stolen car and on foot. Joshua Christopher Mathewson, 29, crashed his vehicle in Butte Falls. He was released from jail, but was found asleep days later in another stolen vehicle in Ashland. Both men remain in the jail on a slew of charges, including burglary, theft and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. None of the chases have resulted in serious injuries or death, department officials say. "We've been really lucky, and it's in part to our deputies," Sickler says. "They're very experienced in these types of events now." "They make good decisions when to continue a pursuit and when to discontinue the pursuit." Falls says he is taking steps to reverse the sudden uptick in vehicle chases. He is reviewing the department's policy on engaging drivers. He says he hopes to modify the policy so deputies will engage only fleeing drivers who are suspected of serious crimes or have multiple warrants out for their arrest. "It was pretty open where we'll chase for almost anything," Falls says. "We're going to tailor that." He says the policy will have some flexibility, with discretion in the hands of supervisors on whether road deputies pursue suspects or back off. In addition, Falls wants to put more emphasis on prevention and community policing. "We've changed our beats. We're working with more data-driven information. We're going to start meeting monthly on these exact types of issues," he says. "What things we can do at a prevention level." Such an initiative would require more personnel at some point, but he says he wants to work with the resources he has first. "We do need more bodies," Falls says. "But we're doing our due diligence in making sure we have everybody in the right seat before we ask for additional bodies." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 29, 2015 at 3:25 PM » 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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