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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 9, 2006 Chase driver acquitted of trying to kill cops By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune The driver in last year's wild chase that ended in the theft of a log skidder was found not guilty of trying to kill pursuing police officers. Mark Louis Tripp, 36, of Grants Pass, is guilty of 13 counts of reckless endangering instead of attempted murder, attempted aggravated murder and attempted first-degree assault, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia ruled Thursday. The judge said he believed Tripp thought his passenger, Michael James Murray, was trying to disable trailing Josephine County Sheriff's patrol cars when he fired six rounds from a shotgun on Feb. 20, 2005. It appeared Tripp was illuminating the patrol cars with a spotlight while Murray took shots, Deputy District Attorney Matt Chancellor argued Thursday. One of the shots hit a deputy's windshield. Chancellor argued Tripp was just as guilty of attempted aggravated murder because he aided and abetted Murray, who was later shot and wounded by police. Tripp's actions only indicated an attempt to escape, according to his defense attorney, Bob Abel. His client later told detectives that it was Murray's idea to "shoot at the radiator," Abel told the court. "Nobody testified that they saw that spotlight in the hands of Mark Tripp," Abel said. Tripp was arrested shortly after the Ford Bronco he was driving crashed through a gate in the 1900 block of Savage Creek Road, near Rogue River. He did not testify in his defense. Murray, 41, was at large for about five hours after the chase. Josephine County Sheriff's Detective Sean Valdez shot him when he spotted Murray driving a log skidder through fences, creeks and property off Savage Creek Road. Murray spent more than two weeks at Rogue Valley Medical Center recovering from the wound to his neck. Valdez acted within the law, a grand jury ruled last year. Murray pleaded no contest last week to 13 charges, including attempted aggravated murder, but has not been sentenced. Facing a mandatory 10 years in prison, he testified Wednesday that he didn't remember much about the crime. Basing his ruling on a lack of evidence about Tripp's intent to commit murder and aggravated murder, Mejia nevertheless found him guilty of attempting to elude police, unlawful use of a weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, resisting arrest and reckless driving. His sentencing date on those charges has not been set. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy