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. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake