JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Investigators identified the person who was shot by an officer on Interstate 5 between Rogue River and Grants Pass.
At about 3:16 p.m. Sunday, an Oregon State Police trooper tried to stop a vehicle that was driving recklessly on southbound I-5 near milepost 53.
Police said the vehicle didn’t stop and reached speeds of over 120 miles per hour before crashing into another vehicle at milepost 50.
According to investigators, the suspect got out of his vehicle with knives in each hand and approached the trooper. He was reportedly told to stop several times before the trooper shot the suspect at a close distance.
The suspect was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries.
The person the suspect collided with sustained minor injuries.
Southbound I-5 was shut down for about three hours, police said.
The name of the trooper involved will not be released until after the case is presented before a grand jury for review.
During the response to this incident, a northbound tractor-trailer hit an unoccupied Rogue River police cruiser that was parked in the area. There were no injuries in that incident, but it did prompt the closure of the northbound lanes for about an hour.
UPDATE: On Tuesday, March 8, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office identified the suspect as 25-year-old Cole Reeves.
Prosecutors said Reeves faces charges of third-degree assault, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, reckless driving, second-degree criminal mischief, and reckless endangering.
Reeves is scheduled to appear in court on March 15.
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