IV Man Faces Seven Charges after Stealing Chainsaw & Threatening Victim
An Illinois Valley man is facing numerous charges after he allegedly stole a chain saw from a homeless man and threatening him last weekend.
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 41-year-old Israel James Hopper for the incident in the Chapman Creek Road area on Sunday.
Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 Sunday morning and reported that Hopper came up to the Ford F-350 flatbed truck he was living in, threatened him and took his Husqvarna 525 Mark 2 chainsaw valued at more than $700. The suspect then started using the chainsaw to cut firewood on Chapman Creek.
When the victim tried to confront Hopper, Hopper allegedly used his Toyota pickup to ram the victim's truck before fleeing the scene. A Chapman Creek resident saw what happened and corroborated the victim's story.
Following an investigation, deputies located Hopper, recovered the stolen saw and placed him into custody.
Hopper was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on seven charges including Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Felony Attempted 3rd-Degree Assault, Menacing, Reckless Endangering, Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 3/4/25 6:38AM by Sam Marsh
