Ashland Apartment Searched as Investigators Work to Identify Child Exploitation Suspect

ASHLAND, Ore. — Over 2,000 child pornography images led to a multi-task force search warrant being served on an apartment in Ashland on Wednesday morning.

The search warrant of an apartment in the 400 block of Russell Street was served by the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET), the Internet Crimes Against Children from the Oregon Department of Justice, and the Ashland Police Department.

A warrant to search the property was obtained after SOCET investigators received more than 2,000 child sexual abuse images from an unidentified suspect.

Digital Devices Sent For Forensic Examination

On-scene investigators seized digital devices that have been sent for forensic examination by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF) for evidence of child exploitation.

Investigators also interviewed potential witnesses and other involved parties as SOCET worked to identify the suspect. Criminal charges will be referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office once a suspect is named.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available at this time.

Other agencies involved with the search warrant were the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, as well as the Medford, Central Point, and Talent Police Departments.