Local News

A Williams man was jailed for multiple crimes after he crashed his vehicle near Gold Hill this week while trying to elude deputies.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports 38-year-old Anthony Leonard took off from a traffic stop in White City after giving deputies a false name late Wednesday afternoon.

Deputies said a pursuit led from East Gregory Road through side streets to Kirtland Road and onto Interstate 5 northbound. Around milepost 39, Leonard veered off the freeway toward Blackwell Road and rolled through a fence. He was placed into custody and no one was hurt.

The initial traffic stop was for expired registration and it took place in the parking lot of the Dollar Tree in White City. Leonard appeared to be impaired when deputies first contacted him. After providing a false name, he took off at a high rate of speed in his full-sized GMC van. Due to high amounts of vehicle traffic and the suspect's reckless driving, deputies did not initially pursue him.

The suspect vehicle was spotted by deputies a short time later while traveling west on East Gregory. The pursuit started after the suspect failed to yield to emergency lights and sirens. Leonard later admitted to using multiple drugs including fentanyl prior to the incident. He was also wanted in Josephine County for burglary.

Anthony Leonard was transported to Providence Medford Medical Center for an evaluation and legal blood draw. He was then lodged at the Jackson County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Giving False Information to Police.