Police: Medford officer shoots, injures knife-wielding man

MEDFORD, Ore. (KOIN) — A Medford police officer shot and wounded a man Sunday morning, after a concerned relative allegedly called police to report that the 55-year-old man wanted to hurt himself.

The relative called police at 9:40 a.m. Sunday. When officers arrived at the home on Seroba Circle, authorities said they saw a blood trail leading toward the back of the home, where they decided to force the door open. Officers said they saw the man, but did not go inside right away. Officers tried to communicate with him, according to police, but “seconds after breaching the door” the man walked toward police “with one hand behind his back.” According to police, he walked into the backyard “where the officers had backed up to a wood fence.”

The man then brought his hidden hand forward, revealing a knife, according to police. Officers said he continued to advance, prompting two officers to deploy a taser and one to fire a gun. The man was taken to the hospital, underwent surgery and is now in stable condition, police said. Five officers were on scene when the shooting happened and three will be placed on paid administrative leave as is protocol, according to the Medford Police Department.

Police Chief Scott Clauson will conduct a press conference Monday regarding the shooting. KOIN 6 will update this story as we learn more.