Suspects "taunt" police by posting selfie during armed standoff

Update 10:00 p.m . Jan. 12

The two suspects have been identified as 18-year-old Jesse Howe and 19-year-old Nicholas Edwards. Medford Police said the two met the other involved party on a marijuana themed Facebook page, and later private messaged to coordinate the drug deal.

Police said Howe and Edwards used their actual names on Facebook, making it easy for them to be tracked down. The standoff occurred at Howe’s home, just a couple hundred feet away from where the armed robbery happened.

When police searched the home they found 3.37 lbs of marijuana and a loaded. 45 caliber handgun, believed to be used in the robbery. Howe and Edwards are both in jail for two counts of first degree robbery, first degree theft, and possession of a controlled substance.

Possible charges against the victims for engaging in an illegal drug deal will be handled by the District Attorney’s office.

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Medford, Ore. — Two men are in jail after a 2.5 hour long standoff in East Medford. Medford Police said a drug deal turned into an armed standoff leading them to close the 1500 block of Grand Avenue between Covina and Corona Avenue in East Medford. They said during the standoff the suspects were inside posting on social media.

Medford Police said it all started when the two suspects met up with two other men to buy three pounds of marijuana at a vacant home in the neighborhood. But the drug deal took a turn.

“One suspect produced a handgun and the other produced a knife,” Medford Police Lieutenant Mike Budreau said.

Budreau said the men grabbed the pot and took off. Neighbors saw them jumping fences with a handgun, prompting calls to police. The two holed up inside one of their homes. Police used a hostage negotiator and contacted the two over the phone.

“They actually indicated they would come right out and we thought it was going to be a short lived event,” Budreau said.

But then the men went silent. As police tried to get them to come out the two posted a picture of them smoking the stolen marijuana on Facebook with the caption “We’ll be out soon.”

“While we were outside they appear to be smoking marijuana inside and kind of taunting police,” Budreau said.

Finally, armed with a search warrant, SWAT entered the home. The men were arrested without a fight.

Their names are not yet being released as they await formal charges. Budreau said the victims of the robbery could also face charges because of the illegal marijuana deal.