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By Sam Wheeler Mail Tribune September 27. 2014 10:39AM 'Just another drunk driver that didn't want to go to jail' Chad Ray Paxton An Alaska man who claimed he was brutalized by Medford police while being arrested for drunken driving in December 2012 couldn't convince a jury of that. Chad Ray Paxton was found guilty by a Jackson County jury Thursday of assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest, second-degree escape and driving under the influence of intoxicants, Oregon Judicial Department records show. He was acquitted of another count of assaulting a peace officer. The jury deliberated for about an hour before returning the verdict, said Jackson County Deputy District Attorney Nick Geil, who prosecuted the case. Paxton, 29, is scheduled to be sentenced by Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia on Monday at 11 a.m., records show. Geil said he will recommend Paxton spend 75 days in jail, three years of supervised probation and pay restitution as well as court fees and fines. "Mr. Paxton was just another drunk driver that didn't want to go to jail," Geil said. According to police reports, Paxton and two female passengers were pulled over at about 2:10 a.m. Dec. 22, 2012 in front of a convenience store near the intersection of West Main Street and Lozier Lane by Medford police Cpl. Tom Venables, who was then joined by Officer Jenny Newell. Video taken at the scene through the windshield of Newell's police car that rainy night shows Newell attempting to have Paxton perform field sobriety tests while Venables kept an eye on Paxton's two passengers. When Newell attempts to arrest Paxton, Venables approaches them to provide support. But the trio quickly tumble to the ground in front of the car Paxton was driving, the video shows. Newell's report states that when she reached for her handcuffs, Paxton erupted, punching at Venables' head, then taking her face-down onto the sidewalk in a bear hug. Paxton then began punching Newell in the back of the head with his closed fists, Venables said. Venables and Newell chased Paxton through the parking lot near the Thunderbird Market then lost sight of him. Paxton was discovered hiding in a pile of scrap metal. He continued to refuse to comply with officer commands, Newell said. The two female passengers were standing on the passenger side of the vehicle when Paxton broke free and ran toward Lozier Lane with Venables and Newell in pursuit. Shilo Chrystine Schalk, described as Paxton's girlfriend, can be seen in the video getting out of the vehicle, and crossing in front of the police car. Off camera, a male voice yells, "What are you doing? Get out of here!" Lt. Mike Budreau said at the time of the incident that Schalk attempted to leave the scene by stealing a police car, but was thwarted by a civilian in the car who had accompanied the officers on a ride-along. Newell said she and several other officers eventually were able to place handcuffs on Paxton after a canine unit was deployed. Paxton, who was transported by officers to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, had two lacerations on the back of his head that required staples. He also had a laceration above his left eye that required stitches. He also complained of torso pain and back pain from the Tazer probes, Newell said. The officers sustained minor injuries to their heads and faces that did not require immediate medical attention, Budreau said. Paxton's charge of assaulting a peace officer stems from his attack of Newell, Geil said. Reach reporter Sam Wheeler at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/swhlr. http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20140927/NEWS/140929697 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->