UPDATED: Man Killed in Medford Pursuit Was Not Wanted By Police

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A 27-year-old Medford man with a history of drug, assault and elude arrests died in a violent wreck early this morning, ending a brief chase at Fourth and Orange streets.

A Medford police officer reports seeing a 1998 Chevy Monte Carlo at 2:09 a.m. driving recklessly westbound on Fourth Street from Riverside Avenue.

The officer, who said the vehicle was speeding and running a red light, began pursuing it but backed off when the Monte Carlo continued to drive recklessly and disregard traffic lights.

Two minutes later, dispatchers directed officers to Fourth and Orange streets where the vehicle had crashed. Officer arrived on scene and found James Robert Kinler, of the 600 block of Dakota Avenue, dead. There were no other passengers in his car.

Records show Kinler had arrests on methamphetamine, assault, eluding police and probation violations in 2000 and 2001. But police say he was not currently wanted, and they're not sure why he ran from the officer.

Police say the car was driving too fast to negotiate a curve on Fourth Street at Orange and was sheared in half when it hit a telephone pole.

The front of the vehicle came to rest on the steps of a nearbly home.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case, assisted by the Medford Police Department. The multi agency STAR Team (Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction) also responded to process the scene, which a witness described as chaotic and confrontational between authorities and citizens.

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