Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jan 2007 Source: Mail Tribune, The (Medford, OR) Copyright: 2007 The Mail Tribune Contact: http://www.mailtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/642 Note: Only prints LTEs from within it's circulation area Author: Anita Burke, Mail Tribune Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) BEATING TALE HAS STRANGE ENDING Alleged Assailants Offered Their Victim Painkillers Before Driving Him Home Authorities in Josephine County are looking for four men they believe kidnapped a Williams man Sunday afternoon, beat him with an ax handle and then gave him medication for the pain. The 35-year-old victim told Josephine County sheriff's deputies that four men he knew burst into his [redacted] home at about noon Sunday and accused him of stealing their medical marijuana, the sheriff's office reported in a press release Monday. The assailants beat him with an ax handle while holding a handgun and a shotgun on him, then forced him into a vehicle. They drove him to two undisclosed locations in Grants Pass, gave him some Vicodin, then took him home, said Josephine County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Ken Selig. The victim, who suffered cuts, scrapes and blackened eyes, went to a neighbor's house to call for help around 5:45 p.m. Sunday. He was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass, where he was treated and released. Deputies interviewed the victim and got the first names of the assailants. The group all knew one another casually and likely had used drugs together in the past, Selig said. Deputies went to the home of one of the identified suspects, [redacted]. [redacted] fled out a back door into the woods, but officials seized his vehicle and other evidence of the altercation, Selig said. [redacted] has a medical marijuana card and had reported a theft of his marijuana to police. Selig said [redacted] phoned investigators Monday and told them he plans to come in with an attorney to discuss Sunday's incident. Officials also hope to track down [redacted] and two men identified only as [redacted]. "We'd love to hear from them," Selig said. "We know something happened, but we've only heard one side of the story. We hope people will cooperate." Detectives are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information about the reported kidnapping and assault or the whereabouts of the suspects to call police. Reach the case detective at 474-5153, Ext. 3523, or call the department's confidential tip line at 474-5160. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake