Mail Tribune - Beating tale has strange ending - January 16, 2007

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2007-01-16

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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map  --> Email Story to a Friend January 16, 2007 Beating tale has strange ending Alleged assailants offered their victim painkillers before driving him home By anita burke Mail Tribune Authorities in Josephine County are looking for four men they believe kidnapped a Williams man Sunday afternoon, beat him with an ax handle and then gave him medication for the pain. The 35-year-old victim told Josephine County sheriff's deputies that four men he knew burst into his Cedar Flat Road home at about noon Sunday and accused him of stealing their medical marijuana, the sheriff's office reported in a press release Monday. The assailants beat him with an ax handle while holding a handgun and a shotgun on him, then forced him into a vehicle. They drove him to two undisclosed locations in Grants Pass, gave him some Vicodin, then took him home, said Josephine County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Ken Selig. The victim, who suffered cuts, scrapes and blackened eyes, went to a neighbor's house to call for help around 5:45 p.m. Sunday. He was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass, where he was treated and released. Deputies interviewed the victim and got the first names of the assailants. The group all knew one another casually and likely had used drugs together in the past, Selig said. Advertisement Deputies went to the home of one of the identified suspects, Benjamin Paul Jones, 39, on East Fork Road, Williams. Jones fled out a back door into the woods, but officials seized his vehicle and other evidence of the altercation, Selig said. Jones has a medical marijuana card and had reported a theft of his marijuana to police. Selig said Jones phoned investigators Monday and told them he plans to come in with an attorney to discuss Sunday's incident. Officials also hope to track down Ethan Allen Felcher, 33, of Williams and two men identified only as Shane and Curt. "We'd love to hear from them," Selig said. "We know something happened, but we've only heard one side of the story. We hope people will cooperate." Detectives are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information about the reported kidnapping and assault or the whereabouts of the suspects to call police. Reach the case detective at 474-5153, Ext. 3523, or call the department's confidential tip line at 474-5160. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com