Update: Driver shot by officer in Central Point - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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Update: Driver shot by officer in Central Point Sunday Feb 19, 2017 at 1:49 PM Feb 20, 2017 at 3:16 PM Damian Mann Mail Tribune @reporterdm A Central Point police officer shot and severely injured a man holding a firearm after an early Sunday vehicle chase ended at Don Jones Memorial Park off Hamrick Road. Oregon State Police say the driver had potentially life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. "We will probably not release the name for 24 to 36 hours," OSP Lt. Mark Duncan said. The name of the officer involved in the shooting was also not released. The police officer first attempted to stop the vehicle for traffic violations at East Pine Street near the Interstate 5 overpass about 3 a.m. But the vehicle eluded the officer and eventually came to a stop in Don Jones Memorial Park, according to the OSP. The driver of the vehicle exited and approached the officer while holding a firearm. The officer then fired his weapon at the suspect. The officer was uninjured during the incident. The Jackson County Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit is conducting the investigation, and the Oregon State Police is leading the investigation at the request of the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. MADIU investigators are from OSP, Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Central Point Police Department, Ashland Police Department and the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Investigators were assisted on scene by Mercy Flights, Fire District Number 3 and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab. Battallion Chief Jeff Bancroft of Fire District 3 said firefighters also assisted with the investigation early Sunday afternoon. "They requested an aerial ladder truck to the scene to get pictures from up above," he said. By Sunday afternoon, the investigation at the scene was nearly complete. Anyone who witnessed or heard the incident is asked to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch Center at 541-664-4600. — Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm.