Local News

The Eagle Point Police Department responded to a potential bomb threat at Eagle Point Middle School made by a student. The School Resource Officer was able to verify that a threat was made about a possible device at the school. Out of an abundance of caution, school officials evacuated the building while additional resources were called to assist with the investigation. The student who made the threat was located, and officers were able to narrow down a possible location within the building for the alleged bomb. Assistance was requested from the Oregon State Police Explosives Unit to help determine if there was a valid device. Officers moved the students to Eagle Rock Elementary in order to ensure safety. Staff from Fire District 3 responded to provide support for potential fires or injuries in the event of an active device.

 

A bomb threat was made at a school in Eagle Point this afternoon. Eagle Point Police Officers were on scene today at the Eagle Point Middle School for a reported threat of an explosive device. The school was evacuated and students were moved to Eagle Rock Elementary. The Oregon State Police Explosives Unit verified there was no device in the building. The school is remaining closed until tomorrow, and will resume for normal school hours.

 

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program could serve 20% fewer children this year due to budget cuts. According to The Daily Courier, the combined Rogue Valley CASA programs lost $68,000 after Oregon cut Victims of Crime Act funding. CASA's executive director of Josephine and Jackson County Jennifer Mylenek said this same cut happened years ago, but local programs helped gather governmental support to fill the gaps. CASA reached out at the state and federal level for financial assistance, but those options either didn't last, or couldn't provide necessary funds. In 2024, 616 children in the Rogue Valley were assigned a CASA, with 120 going to a wait list. This year, Mylenek says she expects they will be able to serve 510 children and placing everyone else on the wait list.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man in Morrison Park last night.

On Wednesday, officers contacted the suspect after hours. They noticed a blue glass pipe with a bulb near him. The pipe tested positive for methamphetamine.

Officers searched the suspect's other belongings, where they found a small clear bag with a crystalline substance that tested positive for meth as well.

He was issued a park exclusion order for Morrison Park, and then taken into custody. Officers lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a serial burglar in Shady Cove yesterday.

On September 10th, at 12:02 p.m., after a months-long investigation, JCSO Shady Cove deputies identified a suspect wanted for committing 18 burglaries to three businesses in the Shady Cove area.

The suspect, Justin David Teixeira, 38, of Shady Cove, is charged with 18 counts of second-degree burglary, 18 counts of second-degree criminal trespass, third-degree theft, first-degree criminal mischief, and possession of a burglary tool or theft device.

During the investigation, deputies identified Teixeira as the suspect and took him into custody while serving a search warrant at his residence in Shady Cove.

Teixeira was lodged in the Jackson County Jail for several hours yesterday until he was force released due to Oregon’s Senate Bill 48 guidelines. This case is open and ongoing with deputies following additional leads. No further information is available at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to an altercation downtown Wednesday morning.

Officers arrived at 101 NW A Street yesterday where people were fighting in the street. They contacted a victim sitting on the ground as the crowd dispersed.

They discovered the victim was subjected to offensive physical contact by the suspect, being punched multiple times and sustaining a minor injury.

The suspect's violent actions caused public alarm. Officers contacted him and took him into custody. He told officers he fought the victim over his perception of words being said about his girlfriend.

The suspect was placed on a parole violation detainer, and was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and Harassment.

 

Medford Police will conduct a targeted pedestrian safety enforcement operation Friday.

Tomorrow from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., officers will be at the intersection of Poplar and Progress Drive.

While not in a designated school speed zone, this location sees heavy foot traffic by students and parents from the nearby school. There is a marked crosswalk, but officers want to remind everyone: every intersection has a crosswalk -- marked or unmarked -- and the same laws apply.

This operation aims to raise awareness of pedestrian safety by enforcing right-of-way laws through the use of a decoy pedestrian. Officers will be looking for drivers who fail to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks, and drivers who pass a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk. Both violations carry a presumptive fine of $265.

 

Crews on the Kelsey Peak Fire completed control lines along the eastern edge of the fire and will transition to mop-up operations today. These operations will help firefighters secure the perimeter. Crews will use infrared maps to focus work on hot spots adjacent to the control line. Aircraft will be supporting operations today as needed. Fire behavior is expected to increase through Saturday as temperatures warm and fuels begin to dry out. Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 1 continues to focus on minimizing impacts of the Kelsey Peak Fire on the Lower Rogue River corridor, surrounding historic and private structures, cultural and environmental resources, and communities near the fire. The Rogue River remains open for permitted boaters near the Kelsey Peak Fire. Firefighting activities may cause delays; boaters are encouraged to use caution on this part of the river.

 

The Oregon State Police made a traffic stop and arrested a man on a misdemeanor warrant yesterday.

On Wednesday afternoon, officers pulled over a white Toyota 4Runner and contacted the driver for traffic violations on US Highway 199 near milepost 20.

He was found to be wanted on a misdemeanor warrant and was placed into custody. A family member was able to take custody of the vehicle.

The driver was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Meth and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.