On May 13, 2021 Ashland Police Department (APD) officers responded to the AM/PM gas station at 2380 Ashland Street on a report of an assault in progress. The investigation indicated that two white men, listed below, had assaulted an African American male gas station attendant while using racist language.
APD detectives took over the investigation of the case and identified the suspects as Pierce and Sutton, listed below. The investigation substantiated that Pierce and Sutton’s action constituted a bias crime under Oregon law.
Detectives were able to secure an indictment against both men, who have since been arrested on the following crimes:
Bias Crime 1st Degree - felony
Bias Crime 2nd Degree
Disorderly conduct 2nd Degree
Assault 3rd Degree
Harassment
The Ashland Police Department has held this incident back as to not alert the suspects that they were being investigated, and until indictments had been secured and the suspects arrested, which recently occurred.
The indicted suspects are identified as Caleb Pierce, 23 years old of Fort Jones CA and Scott Sutton, 32 years of Yreka CA.
The Ashland Police Department will vigorously investigate any bias crimes that are brought to its attention, and will, with the District Attorney’s office, pursue all possible charges given the evidence at hand.
