Lithia employees help detain alleged criminal

Medford, Ore. – A man is in custody after attempting to stab an employee of a Lithia Dodge employee, according to the Medford Police Department.

MPD says on Wednesday that a 1993 Honda sedan was stolen from the 3000 block of Sheraton Court in Medford by an unknown person. Around 6:00 that evening, the victim of the car theft spotted his car in the same parking lot from which it was stolen.

Police say the victim broke out the window of his own car attempting to detain the driver, who then fled on foot. After interviewing witnesses, police identified the driver as 27-year-old Casey Tumey, who they say had numerous warrants out for his arrest.

Shortly aftr the incident, police say a plain-clothes MPD detective spotted Tumey loitering around the Lithia Dodge dealership. As a marked police car arrived to assist the detective, Tumey fled into the showroom. He was pursued by the detective when several employees saw what was happening and attempted to help by blocking Tumey.

Officers say Tumey drew a knife after being confronted, then verbally threatened and slashed at an employee. The knife cut the jacket of one employee but did not result in any injuries.

According to MPD, as the suspect was fleeing the building, additional employees and the detective tried to stop him. The detective and another employee, who was not involved in the previous altercation, caught the suspect as he was going over the guard rail to Highway 62. Police say Tumey again threatened the employee that had caught him and punched him in the chest with the knife in his hand. The employee was not injured, but did let Tumey go.

Tumey then proceeded to run across Highway 62 with the detective and several employees in pursuit, according to MPD. They finally caught Tumey in the Rogue Disposal lot on Crater Lake Avenue after the detective drew his Taser. Tumey complied and was detained.

Tumey has been lodged at the Jackson County Jail on two charges of attempted assault, two counts of menacing, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He also had 12 outstanding warrants from MPD.