Three Arrested After Armed Menacing and Pursuit in Medford
Police recover two stolen firearms following chase and K9 apprehension near Hawthorne Park
MEDFORD, Ore. — Medford Police arrested three suspects Saturday evening following an armed menacing incident, a vehicle pursuit, and the recovery of two stolen firearms connected to a recent armed robbery investigation.
Around 8 p.m. on November 8, officers responded to reports that a passenger in a passing vehicle had pointed a gun at a woman near Crater Lake Avenue and Delta Waters Road. The victim stayed on the phone with dispatch and provided updates as officers searched for the suspect vehicle.
Police located the car near Hawthorne Park and attempted a traffic stop. The driver fled, eventually losing control while turning from 4th Street onto Jackson Street, crashing into a fence at the park.
A 17-year-old male who remained in the vehicle was detained immediately. Two other suspects—Kevin J. Borja, 26, and Jayden E. Hodge, 19—fled on foot into the park. During the chase, Borja allegedly threw away a pistol before hiding in thick brush along Bear Creek.
Investigators linked the vehicle to a recent armed robbery reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (Case SO 25-5780) in which multiple firearms were stolen. One stolen gun was found visible inside the crashed vehicle.
Due to the suspects’ history and the involvement of firearms, the Medford Police SWAT Team responded. A thermal drone detected a heat source in the brush, and officers used announcements and less-lethal tools before K9 Bruno located and apprehended Borja. Hodge was found soon after and taken into custody without further incident.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office impounded the vehicle and later served a search warrant, recovering a second stolen firearm (MPD Case 25-6735).
Borja and Hodge were booked into the Jackson County Jail, while the 17-year-old was detained and referred to juvenile authorities.
The case remains under investigation in coordination with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information is asked to contact Medford Police Department, referencing Incident #25-19324.