Shooting claims investigated
Sheriff says shooting complaint has inconsistencies
Assertions by two women, who said that they were the target of gunfire last month, were largely refuted in the findings of an investigation by Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO).
The complainant, Kerby resident Victoria Sumner, phoned 911 on Thursday, Aug. 30 at 4:05 p.m. She reported that she and her mother, Debbie Culbertson, were fired upon more than 20 times by Crickett Lane resident Michael Perez in Cave Junction, when they arrived to retrieve some belongings from him.
Sumner reported to the 911 dispatcher that they were present by court order to retrieve some furniture; Culbertson is party to a suit against Perez’ company, Infinite Construction. Sumner also told the dispatcher that she and her mother had left the scene and were available for contact at home.
Click here to learn more about how you can tell us what you think
Until warned against misuse of 911, family members and even a friend of the Culbertsons phoned the emergency dispatch number several times to find out when a deputy would arrive to take their report.
A staffer in KDRV-TV’s newsroom in Medford confirmed that the station received a call to summon a television news reporter. Later that evening, Sumner appeared on KDVR-TV and she reiterated her allegation that Perez fired a gun at her mother.
It also was noted in that report that due to short staffing in the sheriff’s office, and because the situation was not “critical,” response to the call was not a high priority. JCSO deputies arrived some three hours after the initial call. No injuries were reported in the reported shooting.
An investigation and subsequent report was filed with JCSO on Sunday, Sept. 2 by responding officer, Deputy Shawn Shaw. He and his supervisor, Sgt. Edye Deubert, found no physical evidence to support the claim that gunshots had been fired in the manner and direction claimed by the complainants.
Even so, Sheriff Gil Gilbertson said it was evident that a shotgun had been fired numerous times -- in a different direction and out of sight from where Sumner claimed she saw Perez shoot at her mother.
“I find a lot of inconsistencies in statements given by the victims and statements given by (witnesses) who were with the victims in another vehicle,” the sheriff noted.
“After looking at the report and the photos, I went out to look at the situation,” Gilbertson continued. “There clearly was evidence of a 12-gauge shotgun having been fired,” he said.
Gilbertson said that he admonished two young men, Perez’ nephew and a friend, for choosing that moment to practice with their gun.
“Given the civil situation between the two parties, it was pretty poor timing to be shooting at that time,” said the sheriff.
Gilbertson said that the report has been forwarded to the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office. The D.A.’s office could not comment on what, if any, charges were being considered on the basis of the complaint and subsequent report.
Speaking to the issue of the timeliness of JCSO’s response to the 911 call, Gilbertson believes the situation received the response warranted. He pointed out that OSP also had been advised of the situation.
“It took some time to get someone out there, but as far as the protocols go, it was handled correctly,” the sheriff said.
Advertisment:
