Local News

An Illinois Valley man is in custody for four felony-level crimes after he allegedly fired several shots at two people and stole a quad from a Cave Junction area home.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Blaine Matthew Case for the incident in the 5200-block of Dick George Road on Tuesday at 6:06 p.m..

Deputies said they initially received a report that a male subject came onto the property looking for the owner, got into a verbal argument with the caretakers and fired five or six rounds at them. They said five bullet casings were recovered from where the shots were fired and four of the bullets struck the garage very close to where the victims were standing. The shooter fled the scene.

A short time later, Case returned to the property and stole an Arctic Cat ATV from the victims. An investigation determined the suspect was a former employee of the property owner who lives nearby and his vehicle was identified as a GMC Yukon.

Deputies located the stolen quad in the garage of Case's residence, but he was not there. They tracked him down at or near Illinois Valley River Forks State Park and placed him into custody. The quad was recovered by its owner.

Case was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges including two counts of Attempted 1st-Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle plus a misdemeanor charge of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail pending his court arraignment this afternoon.