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Click Here 43 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, January 30, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend January 6, 2004 Police chase down theft suspect By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune A man wanted for questioning as part of a string of Medford thefts led police on a high-speed chase Monday before they captured him with some help from citizens and a small herd of law-abiding cattle. Derrick Lee Atterberry, 23, of Medford,led police on the car chase around 10 a.m. from the Rogue Valley Mall down back roads toward the Gold Hill area before he was captured in a field off Blackwell Road near Interstate 5, police said. Atterberry fled on foot through a field, but was chased by the cattle, Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said. A group of Erickson Air-Crane workers noticed the commotion and cut off a potential escape path, and Atterberry surrendered, Moran said. "So we definitely got some assistance from the Erickson employees and the cattle out there," Moran said. Medford police arrested Atterberry on charges of attempting to elude police in a vehicle and on foot and for reckless driving. He was also taken into custody on a no-bail statewide warrant charging him with violating the conditions of his parole from a previous felony conviction. Advertisement Detectives on Monday also questioned Atterberry about his suspected role in a string of thefts from vehicles and mailboxes in Medford, Moran said. Atterberry’s last known address was a residence on the 300 block of DeBarr Avenue — the same place where police two weeks ago arrested a woman for allegedly stabbing a fellow resident in the back during an argument about a dog, Moran said. Monday’s case began when Medford police officer Nate Banry spotted Atterberry driving a silver Acura Legend near the mall, police said. When Banry attempted to pull the car over, Atterberry sped away, Moran said. After about 10 minutes of speeding through rural roads, Atterberry ended up on Blackwell Road near I-5, where Oregon State Police troopers laid tire-popping spike strips to stop him, Moran said. After the Legend’s tires were flattened by the spikes, Atterberry abandoned the car on the northbound I-5 on-ramp, then ran across the freeway before confronting the inhospitable cattle in an adjacent field, Moran said. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times