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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 24, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 29, 2004 %%$$cutline$$%% Police chase in Ashland ends in driver’s arrest ASHLAND — A California man fleeing police was arrested in Ashland Saturday morning after speeding through town. Rex Willard Bozarth, 31, of Fort Jones, led police on a chase from near Yreka, Calif., to a residential neighborhood in Ashland before Oregon State Police arrested him just after 10 a.m. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on a California warrant for drug charges, attempting to elude police in a vehicle and on foot, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of amphetamines. Officials said additional trespassing and criminal mischief charges might be added because of his actions during a foot chase. California Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop Bozarth for speeding on Interstate 5 near Yreka about 9:35 a.m. Saturday, Oregon State Police trooper Greg Costanzo said. Bozarth fled with the highway patrol in pursuit. As he raced over the California-Oregon border, an Oregon State Police plane based in Ashland tracked the chase from the air. At about milepost 11, as Bozarth sped recklessly through increasingly heavy traffic, officers slowed their chase. State police kept an eye on him from the air and officers on the ground followed him at a distance as he roared through town, Costanzo said. Ashland police Sgt. Bob Smith said that because of construction, traffic and lots of pedestrians about on a Saturday morning, police didn’t want to chase him through town. Advertisement From the plane, senior trooper Duane Price saw Bozarth park at a home on Mountain Avenue and run away from the car. OSP and Ashland police then rushed to the neighborhood. Trooper Jeff Allison chased Bozarth through several yards and over fences before arresting him at 10:05 a.m., Costanzo said. Officers found methamphetamine, marijuana and a loaded .45-caliber handgun in Bozarth’s car. He told officers that he has run from police 30 or 40 times, but has only been caught a few times. Officials credited the airplane with tracking his carso police following safely behind knew where to catch up with him. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers