KLDR - Local News

BCC Fails to Approve Small Funding Request from Friends of Country Living

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning failed to approve a small funding request from Friends of Country Living, even though the money would have come from the state and not county coffers. No motion was made to approve the funding request by the group that strives to improve and protect the livability of the small community of Sunny Valley. For the second straight week, Commissioner Chris Barnett was absent and "excused." Friends of Country Living made the request to erect a kiosk near the Sunny Valley Covered Bridge to explain its history and weight-load limitations to passersby. Public Works Director Rob Brandes spoke on behalf of the group and told Board Chair Andreas Blech and Commissioner Ron Smith that he fully supported their request for $2,000, which he explained would come from the Oregon Department of Transportation with no funding taken from the General Fund. The public comment period developed into a "Good Friday" religious debate with a woman presenting Easter-themed cupcakes to the Board followed immediately by a man who made his regular objection to what he called "religious dogma that is promoted by the Commissioners." A Grants Pass City Council member followed that up with praise for the Board reinstating prayer at the start of their meetings. Other speakers included a man who supports the Friends of Country Living group and a woman who supports the Josephine Community Library District.

Posted on 4/18/25 11:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Felon for 7 Crimes after He Threatened Officers with Hammer

Grants Pass Police jailed a well-known criminal offender for multiple crimes after he threatened officers with a hammer when they tried to arrest him for violating a court order. The Police Department reports officers eventually arrested 30-year-old Kraig Dean Toothman for the incident at and near the NE 7th Street "resting" site on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.. Police said they contacted Toothman at the temporary campsite and told him he was under arrest for two counts of Contempt of Court. They said he fled on foot and they chased him down at the corner of NE A Street and Dean Drive near the high school. GPHS was placed in a "secure" status during the incident. Toothman reportedly pulled out a hammer and threatened officers with it before he was Tased and placed into custody. He was found to be in possession of a glass pipe containing methamphetamine residue. The hammer was seized as evidence and the pipe was seized for destruction. Toothman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Resisting Arrest, Escape, Meth Possession and two counts of Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail pending his court arraignment.

Posted on 4/18/25 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Assisted US Postal Inspector by Jailing Felons for Probation Violation

Grants Pass Police assisted the United States Postal Inspection Service by arresting two local felons late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers first served a federal search warrant at a home in the 300-block of NE Beacon Drive on Thursday at 5:15 p.m.. Police said they contacted 30-year-old Killian Reese Mavity during execution of the warrant and found him to be in possession of a baggie containing two capsules filled with suspected cocaine. Mavity was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Cocaine Possession and Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Felon in Possession of Body Armor, Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Possession of Methamphetamine. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. A short time later, officers served a second federal search warrant at a home in the 1400-block of SE Cherry Lane. Police said they contacted 31-year-old Dominick Jeffrey Aragon at that residence, placing him into custody for Felony Probation Violation related to past arrests for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, 1st-Degree Burglary and 1st-Degree Theft. Aragon was also lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 4/18/25 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

GPPD Jailed Woman for Multiple Fraud Crimes following Recent Investigation

The Grants Pass Police Department has jailed a woman for multiple fraud crimes following a recent investigation. The Police Department reports detectives arrested 29-year-old Briana Lee Beal in an unspecified location on Wednesday afternoon. No details about the investigation have been released, but Beal was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of felonies including 1st-Degree Forgery, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, Identity Theft and Parole Violation plus a misdemeanor charge of Criminal Conspiracy. Beal was being held without bail pending her arraignment in Circuit Court.

Posted on 4/18/25 11:08AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Old & New Crimes following Downtown Disturbance

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for old and new crimes last night after he caused a disturbance in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 43-year-old Dennis Wilson Campbell near the corner of SE 6th and H streets on Thursday around 9:30 p.m.. Police said Campbell was reported to be walking down the middle of 6th Street and obstructing traffic. They detained him and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Resisting Arrest. During a consent search, Campbell was found to be in possession of two loaded syringes and some white powder that tested positive as methamphetamine. The meth and drug paraphernalia were seized for destruction. Campbell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Mischief and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/18/25 11:06AM by Sam Marsh

GPPD Investigating Suspicious Tent Fire at Homeless Resting Site on NE 7th

The Grants Pass Police Department was investigating a suspicious tent fire at a downtown resting site for the city's homeless population. GPPD officers and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the tent fire in the southeast corner of the resting site near the police station on NE 7th Street on Wednesday at approximately 9:30 p.m.. Police said no one was injured in the fire, but the tent and a portion of the nearby fence covering were destroyed. None of the surrounding tents or any residential properties in the area were damaged. GPPD said it is taking this incident very seriously, given the potential for great bodily harm. It is unknown whether the fire resulted from a criminal act, an accident or an unattended heating device. The investigation is ongoing.

Posted on 4/18/25 11:05AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Man for Smashing Windshield on Vehicle in Downtown CJ

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Cave Junction man for smashing a window on a vehicle parked along Redwood Highway yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 25,600-block of US Highway 199 on Thursday shortly before the noon hour. Deputies said witnesses reported that 72-year-old Larry Lee Warnicke used a tire iron to smash the windshield on a 1989 Chevrolet Suburban at that location. The caller told dispatchers they had a past history with the suspect, though they did not provide any specifics. According to the report, the incident was captured on video surveillance and damage to the vehicle was estimated to be around $500. Deputies contacted Warnicke at his residence and he admitted to the vandalism. He was cited to appear in court on May 7th for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief.

Posted on 4/18/25 11:03AM by Sam Marsh

Jail Deputies Served Inmate with GP Warrant after Arrest in Jackson County

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office served a warrant on a jail inmate who had been arrested in Jackson County. According to the Sheriff's Office, jail deputies served the warrant on 35-year-old Corey James Elmore on Thursday around 7:45 a.m.. Deputies said Elmore was arrested by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation. He was served with the warrant right after he arrived at the jail facility via prisoner transport. Elmore was being held in lieu of posting $5,000 bail.

Posted on 4/18/25 11:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared California Fugitive after Shoplifting Incident at Walmart

Grants Pass Police apprehended a California fugitive after she was caught stealing from Walmart this week. The Police Department reports officers tracked down and arrested 35-year-old Jenalee Rodriguez near Applebee's shortly after the Wednesday afternoon incident at big box retailer on NE Terry Lane. Police said Walmart called 9-1-1 to report a female subject stole a bottle of water and two doughnuts valued at less than $20 by leaving the store without paying for the items. Upon contact, she admitted to stealing the merchandise. A routine records check revealed that Rodriguez was wanted on an El Dorado County, California, felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Obstructing Law Enforcement. She was immediately placed into custody. Rodriguez was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of 3rd-Degree Theft. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. She was also trespassed from Walmart.

Posted on 4/18/25 6:39AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Parole Violation after NE City Trespassing Call

Grants Pass Police incarcerated a woman for violating terms of her post-prison supervision by visiting a home from which she had been trespassed and being in possession of narcotics. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 43-year-old Dion Micki Cleek on Wednesday afternoon for the incident at a home in the 1300-block of NE 10th Street. Police said a resident of the home called 9-1-1 to report that Cleek showed up and talked her way inside in order to see her children who live there. The caller said she appeared to be under the influence of drugs and they wanted her removed. A Department of Human Services caseworker told them to call law enforcement. Officers arrived on scene and placed Cleek into custody. During intake at the Josephine County Jail, she was found to be in possession of a small baggie containing a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. Cleek was charged with 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass and Meth Possession plus the resulting Felony Parole Violation. She was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 4/18/25 6:37AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Assisted by RADE in Arrest of Man on Outstanding Drug Warrant

Grants Pass Police received assistance from Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) when they arrested a man on a local warrant at a downtown bar. The Police Department reports officers made contact with 36-year-old Bryan William Suthann at River City Grill on SE K Street on Wednesday afternoon. Police said Suthann was observed by RADE and he was known to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Possession of Methamphetamine. During a consent search, Suthann was found to be in possession of a small baggie containing meth. He was placed into custody and the meth was seized. Suthann was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession.

Posted on 4/18/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Motorist for DUII after Crash at Community Health Center

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving this week after he crashed into another vehicle in the parking lot of Siskiyou Community Health Center. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the fender-bender at the health care facility on NW Hawthorne Avenue around midday Wednesday. Police said a female motorist called 9-1-1 to report that she was stopped when the male driver -- later identified as 62-year-old David Lefevre Moreno -- drove straight into her vehicle. No one was hurt and neither of the vehicles -- a Subaru Crosstrek and Dodge Durango -- sustained much damage. Upon arrival, officers found both drivers angry with each other. They said Moreno displayed several indicators of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. He was placed into custody and provided a breath sample that documented a high level of impairment. Moreno was lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and his vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 4/18/25 6:28AM by Sam Marsh