Man Leads Police on Reckless Chase After Harassing Mercy Flights Ambulance Crews

Medford Police Dept.

On Saturday morning, August 19^th on two different incidents, the Medford Police Department received reports that a known subject, Parker Joseph Latham (31 years old) was harassing and interfering with different Mercy Flights Medical Ambulance crews at different locations throughout the city. The reports were that the suspect was driving a silver Toyota 4Runner and that he was blocking-in Mercy Flight ambulances using his vehicle as well as disordering himself to crews. Medford Police patrol officers investigated these cases and were unable to locate Latham until at about 3:05pm, when we received another report of the same suspect vehicle boxing in and harassing another Mercy Flights crew in the area of the Olive Garden at Crater Lake Hwy and Delta Waters Road. Medford Police located the suspect vehicle in that parking lot. Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to assist based on previous cases they were aware of with the same suspect and a history of his uncooperative behavior and eluding in vehicles. 

As police were contacting Latham in his vehicle, he accelerated over landscaping and out on the roadway where he drove recklessly through northeast Medford. Due to the Medford Police Departments vehicle pursuit policy, we disconnected our pursuit of the vehicle. However, Jackson County Sheriff’s department was able to keep the vehicle on view and provide updates. Latham drove recklessly throughout neighborhoods and passing other vehicles at extremely reckless speeds. At one point, the suspect vehicle collided with a Sheriff’s Department vehicle near the roundabout at Springbrook Road and Cedar Links Drive. There were no injuries to the involved Deputy. Officers and Deputies were then able to take Latham into custody without further incident. 

Parker Latham was arrested and lodged at the Jackson County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Driving while Suspended (Misdemeanor), Attempted Assault 1, Attempted Assault on a Police Officer, Attempting to Elude (Vehicle, DUII, Reckless Driving and Criminal Mischief (1^st Degree).