Local News

The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) team has been busy removing dangerous drugs and firearms from the local area over the past several months.

In October 2023, MADGE investigators made contact with a suspect in the north Medford Walmart parking lot as a result of a months-long investigation. A search of the suspect's vehicle resulted in the seizure of nine pounds of methamphetamine and cash. The arrestees were identified as 52-year-old Angela Rehberger and 51-year-old Stacy Carlisle, both of Grants Pass.

In January 2024, MADGE detectives made contact with two subjects in the south Medford Walmart parking lot as a result of a month-long investigation. The two suspects were found to be in possession of 10 pounds of methamphetamine, six ounces of fentanyl and cash. The arrestees were identified as 45-year-old Luis Lepe-Rodriguez and 55-year-old Aurora Mendoza-Valencia, both of Crescent City, California. Both had been transporting drugs to the Medford area.

In February of this year, MADGE served a search warrant at the Motel 6 in north Medford as a result of a months-long investigation involving Honduran nationals delivering drugs to the Rogue Valley from the California Bay Area. During execution of the search warrant, 10 pounds of meth and a loaded handgun were seized. The arrestees were identified as 29-year-old Yoel Valladares-Galvez and 19-year-old Carlos Rivas-Gamez.

MADGE is a multi-jurisdictional task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach. It is composed of members from the Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County District Attorney's Office, Jackson County Parole & Probation, US Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.