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0 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 Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 21, 1915 ... Helping Ugandans help themselves ... OHSU opens rural 'hub' campus in Klamath Falls ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 21, 1915 ... Helping Ugandans help themselves ... OHSU opens rural 'hub' campus in Klamath Falls ... CRIME Suspected car thief found asleep in stolen vehicle in Ashland Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 19, 2015 at 12:09 PM Updated Oct 19, 2015 at 4:43 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 19, 2015 at 12:09 PM Updated Oct 19, 2015 at 4:43 PM » Social News A car-theft and burglary suspect released from jail last week is back in lockup after Ashland police found him asleep in a stolen car with a stolen gun. Ashland police Chief Tighe O'Meara said Jacksonville resident Joshua Christopher Mathewson, 29, was found sleeping in a car at the Holiday Inn on Clover Lane in Ashland at 9:37 p.m. Saturday. A caller had reported a person down in the parking lot. Mathewson was unresponsive to officers' prompts at first, so police had to use a siren to wake him up, O'Meara said. "He was sleeping and he had to be woken up and taken into custody," O'Meara said. Ashland police found that he was carrying a stolen weapon, O'Meara said. The dates when the weapon and car were stolen were not immediately available. Though Mathewson was arrested in Ashland, Medford police say he has been on their radar since last week. He is suspected of working with Gregory Ryan Taylor, a Grants Pass man recently indicted on charges in six car thefts in Medford who is thought to be responsible for many more across Jackson and Josephine counties. An affidavit said Taylor "estimated he had stolen approximately 50 vehicles" between those two counties over the past year. Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said detectives saw Taylor and Mathewson driving in separate stolen vehicles Wednesday in Eagle Point. "Our detectives got eyes on them, confirmed they were stolen vehicles, called for backup," Budreau said. While backup was en route, Budreau said, the pair saw the detectives watching them and took off in separate directions. Sheriff's deputies pursued Mathewson to Butte Falls, where the vehicle crashed. Jackson County Sheriff's Capt. Tim Snaith said Mathewson was then ordered out of the vehicle and taken into custody. He was released from jail on his own recognizance the next day. Two hours after his release, Budreau said, police received a report of a burglary from a law firm office two blocks away. "Left at the scene was an envelope with some paperwork with (Mathewson's) jail bracelet," Budreau said. On Monday, Mathewson was held in the Jackson County Jail on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft, possession of burglary tools, second-degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm and first-degree criminal mischief, according to jail records. His bail was set at $85,000. 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. 19, 2015 at 12:09 PM Updated Oct 19, 2015 at 4:43 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... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events 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