December 7, 2021 9:40 a.m.

Oregon State Police arrested a wanted homicide suspect near Wolf Creek Monday, only a few miles from the Douglas County border.

A release said OSP had received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding 48-year old Murray Edwards, who was traveling south on the freeway. The FBI said the suspect had an active warrant from Pierce County, Washington for homicide, and was traveling in a large SUV which had California plates.

A trooper spotted a vehicle matching the description given at the southbound Manzanita Rest Area. With the assistance of the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, troopers and deputies attempted contact with the vehicle, but when approached, the suspect fled south on the freeway at a high rate of speed.

The release said a trooper attempted to deploy spike strips to disable the vehicle, but the suspect saw them being thrown down and swerved aggressively to avoid them. The speed and evasive maneuver caused him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into the concrete center divider. Edwards was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect was evaluated at the scene by medical personnel and then was transported to Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass. Following evaluation, he was interviewed by FBI agents and later lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant. He is detained without bail. Local charges will be forwarded to the Josephine County District Attorney for consideration.