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Medford fugitives caught in Douglas County By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune After eluding police and spending the night in the cold woods, a man known as "Medford's most wanted" was arrested Thursday in Douglas County. Scott Edward Perry, 37, and Kathi Sorrine, 31, were arrested on charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle, attempting to elude police in a vehicle and on foot and reckless driving. Both subjects were wanted on multiple Jackson County warrants. Perry allegedly fled from a Douglas County sheriff's deputy who tried to stop the 1987 Toyota Celica that Perry was driving near Seven Feathers Resort & Casino in Canyonville just after 1 a.m. The car headed north on Interstate 5, avoiding spike strips police had placed, before turning onto a snow-blanketed mountain road in the Myrtle Creek area. When the Celica became mired in snow, both suspects jumped out and got away on foot. The car - believed to be stolen from the Medford area - slid backward over a bank and into a creek. Deputies searched the area for several hours with dogs. At daybreak, Oregon State Police in Central Point sent a plane to aid with the search. Deputies said they were concerned the suspects might suffer from hypothermia because the temperature hovered around 23 degrees, there were several inches of snow on the ground and the suspects had waded through a creek. At about 3 p.m., officers found the suspects hiding in some brush and arrested them without a struggle, deputies said. After they were lodged in the Douglas County Corrections Center, Perry and Sorrine were taken to a Roseburg hospital where they were treated for frostbite on their feet. They were still in the hospital Thursday night. "We are very thankful this apprehension happened without any injury to innocent parties," said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran. Medford police have been looking for Perry since November when he allegedly caused a traffic accident and didn't stick around. Detectives said they believe Perry is connected to a rash of vehicle thefts in the Medford area in November and December. On Dec. 31, Perry reportedly escaped state troopers after a vehicle chase. OSP detectives said they found documents in his vehicle connecting him to crimes of mail theft, identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. Perry was convicted of unauthorized use of vehicle in 2000 and has appeared in Jackson County Circuit Court on numerous burglary, theft and criminal mischief charges. In 1994, he and two other inmates in the county jail tried to escape by breaking a cell window. Information was unavailable Thursday on what charges were listed on Sorrine's arrest warrants. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.