Deputies Captured Washington Fugitive & Recovered Stolen Car in Traffic Stop
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended an out-of-state fugitive and recovered a stolen vehicle yesterday during a traffic stop on Williams Highway near Murphy.
The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 27-year-old David Nolan Vanwetter following a high-risk traffic stop on Highway 238 at Ridgefield Road on Monday at 3:52 p.m..
Deputies said they started following a Toyota Prius driven by Vanwetter on the highway at East Fork Road in Williams after they discovered the car had been stolen out of Washington state. There was also a female passenger in the vehicle.
Upon contact, deputies learned that Vanwetter was wanted on serviceable warrants out of Washington and Hawaii. He was wanted in Washington for failing to appear in court for Possession of a Weapon.
Vanwetter was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant and he awaits extradition proceedings that will likely send him back to Washington. As of this morning, he had not been charged with vehicle theft.
The stolen car was recovered and towed into Grants Pass. The female passenger was not identified -- she was given a courtesy ride into town.
Posted on 3/4/25 10:40AM by Sam Marsh
