Armed confrontation ends with fatality
Oregon State Police Forensics experts survey a rural Cave Junction site where a man died in an officer-involved shooting. (Photos by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News)
From our weekly issue dated November 14, 2007
Paul Harrison Chesser, 66, died in rural Cave Junction, a short distance south of the downtown area, following a confrontation with deputies during which gunshots were fired.
Indications were that Chesser was shot by deputies after he first fired his weapon at them, said Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson in a news release several hours after the incident.
Subsequently, Oregon State Police issued a news release stating that, “The deputies ordered Chesser to put the firearm down numerous times, but he refused, pointing it at the deputies several times.
Oregon State Police Forensics experts survey a rural Cave Junction site where a man died in an officer-involved shooting. Story on Page 5. (Photos by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News)
“During the standoff,” OSP continued, “Chesser pointed the handgun at one of the deputies and gunfire was exchanged.”
The incident was initially a disturbance complaint from 28351 Redwood Hwy. said to involve several intoxicated persons. It was reported at 2:03 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, Gilbertson said, at the home. It is slightly more than 2 miles south of Downtown CJ, and next to J’s Feed & Tack.
Names of the two deputies who fired their weapons, have not been released.
The two officers who fired, among four deputies who responded, have been placed on administrative leave for approximately two weeks, the sheriff said. The two other officers who were at the scene likely will be on leave for a week, he said.
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Interviews of the deputies whose weapons were fired were to begin Tuesday, Nov. 13. Interviews were to be conducted as a normal protocol when officers are involved in a shooting, Gilbertson explained.
The interviews are to be conducted by personnel from Oregon State Police and the county district attorney’s office, he added.
The names of the deputies who fired their weapons, said Gilbertson, “are being withheld at this time to cope with this tragic incident. Their names will be released by the appropriate lead agency and the district attorney when appropriate.”
Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response personnel were dispatched to the scene after the shooting. They were on-scene only a few minutes; then returned to quarters.
Chesser was pronounced dead at the scene, OSP reported.
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Unofficial sources provided unconfirmed information that the Chesser did not live in the house on the property, but in a fifth-wheel trailer on the site. Sources also said that there was a birthday party that began at a Cave Junction bar, and then moved to the 28351 Redwood Hwy. residence.
Regarding the shooting incident, the sheriff provided the following:
“At 2:03 a.m. a call was placed from 28351 Redwood Hwy. reporting that several intoxicated individuals were involved in a verbal and threatening argument. The caller told 911 dispatchers that shots had been fired.
“Four sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the address and arrived at about 2:30 a.m. Deputies confronted an armed male who refused to put down a handgun when ordered to do so.
Oregon State Police Forensics experts survey a rural Cave Junction site where a man died in an officer-involved shooting. (Photos by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News)
“During the standoff, the armed male fired his weapon at one of the deputies. That deputy, and one other deputy, shot the male, striking the male, resulting in fatal wounds.”
It was not revealed whether the deputies involved were regular patrol officers, reservists, or a combination of the two.
The sheriff also noted that “per agreed upon protocols between the sheriff’s office, OSP, Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety and the district attorney, that OSP will be the lead investigative agency in this most tragic incident.
“We have confidence,” said Gilbertson, “that all issues related to this event will be investigated thoroughly and completely with all public questions and concerns regarding our conduct and procedures being adequately addressed.”
Additionally, the sheriff said that, “Our thoughts, prayers and support are with the deputies and their families who survived this all too frequent and tragic event.
“We support them in this time of need, and ask that the public be patient while this incident is being investigated.”
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact OSP at 776-6114, Ext. 236.
