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53 °F 5 Day Forecast Saturday, November 29, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend October 11, 2003 Meth-lab shootings suspect caught after 4 days Josephine County sheriff’s detectives peacefully arrested a man Thursday night accused of shooting two people Sunday in an argument about a meth lab in his house and fleeing from police. Wilfred C. Coddington, 47, was arrested late Thursday on two counts of first-degree assault and charges of possession, delivery and manufacture of amphetamines, possession of a precursor substance used to make amphetamines and endangering the welfare of a minor. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail, Detective Sgt. Ken Selig said. Police refused to disclose where Coddington was arrested. Selig said Coddington is cooperating with a continuing investigation into last weekend’s shooting. Coddington allegedly shot Jeremy Lee Jorgensen, 18, who lived with him in a run-down house at 475 O’Brien Road, near O’Brien, and Jesse Jonah Ballenger-Windle, 25, of Cave Junction. The three were arguing about living conditions when Coddington allegedly shot the other two men with a handgun. The fight was reported at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Advertisement The injured men were taken to Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass, where they both remained Friday in fair condition, hospital officials said. When Josephine County sheriff’s deputies arrived at the house Sunday, Coddington had fled. Deputies found a small meth lab, red phosphorus and other chemicals used to make amphetamines, and evidence that meth had been manufactured there recently, Selig said. They also found evidence of methamphetamine sales, reports said. As deputies searched for Coddington, tips filtered in from around the Illinois Valley. Officers stopped a truck that they thought Coddington was driving west of O’Brien early Monday, but the driver ran into the woods and eluded police. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times