Burglary in Winston — A man broke into a Southern Oregon home early Sunday morning and fired several shots at a homeowner who happened upon the break-in. Police say he then fired shots at responding officers and, finding himself surrounded, killed himself. An unidentified homeowner found Johnathan Bunch in his Winston home after midnight on Sunday. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says Bunch fired at the homeowner several times but missed before fleeing. While the homeowner was on the phone with police, Bunch fired at him again and ran to a nearby barn. Police say Bunch fired at a Roseburg police officer. The sheriff’s SWAT team surrounded him and brought crisis negotiators, who said Bunch was lying under a car and not moving. A county medical examiner said Bunch killed himself with a handgun.
Giraffe euthanized — Giraffes usually spend less than 10 minutes a day lying down, so when the staff at the Wildlife Safari in Southern Oregon saw Hodari the Somali giraffe lying down overnight, they knew something was wrong. Staff at the Wildlife Safari in Winston were unable to help the 15-year-old giraffe to his feet last week, even with heavy equipment. Curator Dan Brands says the staff saw signs that Hodari wasn’t trying to stand up and made the decision to euthanize him. The park will conduct a necropsy to determine what caused the giraffe’s condition. Brand says 15 to 20 years old is considered old age for a Somali giraffe.
Judge sanctioned — A Jackson County judge has been sanctioned by the Oregon Supreme Court for excoriating a serial child molester at his sentencing, including telling the man that he will “rot in prison." The Medford Mail Tribune reports Judge Tim Barnack told Richard L. Taylor on Jan. 21 that community members wondered why he wasn’t hanging from a tree. The Supreme Court ruled that Barnack’s comments and behavior violated the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct. Barnack says he regrets his comments and accepts the censure. It carries no fines or fees, nor does it limit his duties as a judge. In October 2011, Taylor was found guilty of 21 counts related to child sex abuse and was sentenced to life on each count.
— From wire reports
