KLDR - Local News

Sheriff's Office Jailed Man Wanted on State and Grants Pass Felony Warrants

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man wanted on statewide and local felony warrants last night. The Sheriff's Office reports 46-year-old Kayasith Johnny Thavisack arrived at the Josephine County Jail via prisoner transport on Thursday around 9 p.m.. Where he was he was arrested was not disclosed. Sheriff's officials said Thavisack was wanted on an Oregon State felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a burglary conviction. They said he was also wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Forgery and Methamphetamine Possession. Thavisack remains in custody today on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 2/21/25 11:20AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Felon for Felony Parole Violation after RR Highway Incident

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating terms of his post-prison supervision after he caused public alarm and traffic delays on Rogue River Highway. The Police Department reports officers arrested 37-year-old Michael Wayne Cheek for the incident in the 500-block of Highway 99 on Thursday shortly before 7 a.m.. Police said Cheek was throwing items on the roadway, causing significant traffic delays on the highway in front of Farmers Market. They contacted him and said he was clearly under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. He was taken into custody. Once in custody, Cheek intentionally struck his own head on a push bumper and on the pavement while in a prone position. He was evaluated by medical personnel and placed in ankle restraints before being found to be in possession of a white crystal substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine. According to the report, Cheek's corrections officer was contacted and the meth was seized for destruction. Cheek was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Meth Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show he has been arrested for violating his parole at least four times since last March.

Posted on 2/21/25 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Felon for Parole Violation by Being in Possession of Drugs

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating terms of his post-prison supervision by being in possession of narcotics in the north part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a trespassing call involving 48-year-old Gerald Ray Dollarhide near Udder's Ice Cream on NE 7th Street on Thursday at 10:24 a.m.. Police said the manager called 9-1-1 to report some subjects including Dollarhide appeared to be camping in two vehicles in the parking lot. They said the man was seen smoking from a glass pipe containing a white substance, which later field-tested positive as methamphetamine. Dollarhide initially denied smoking meth, but he eventually admitted to doing so and his corrections officer was contacted. Dollarhide was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 2/21/25 11:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Frequent Flyer for Causing Disturbance in Historic District

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for causing a disturbance in the downtown historic district late last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident near the corner of SW G and 4th streets on Thursday at 10:55 p.m.. Police said the complainant called 9-1-1 to report seeing a female subject in dark clothing walking in the middle of G Street, forcing three vehicles to maneuver around her to avoid a collision. The caller said the woman was almost hit twice. Officers arrived on scene and contacted 32-year-old Whitney Ann Word, who matched the description of the female suspect. They said she initially refused to provide her name and date of birth, but her identity was confirmed from previous photos in their computer data system. She has been arrested numerous times. Word was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail and was still in custody this morning.

Posted on 2/21/25 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Investigating Suspicious Vehicle Fire on Interstate 5 in Wolf Creek Area

The Oregon State Police was investigating a suspicious vehicle fire that occurred early today on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County near Wolf Creek. OSP reports troopers and firefighters responded to the incident in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 79 at 1:23 this morning. Troopers said the vehicle fire was quickly extinguished and no injuries occurred. They identified the burnt vehicle as a Nissan Altima and the victim as a 32-year-old Roseburg woman who was driving. The car belongs to a 54-year-old man. After a field interview with the victim, OSP identified the suspect as a 39-year-old Azalea man who was a passenger in the vehicle. The exact cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. At the owner's request, the damaged car was towed to Grants Pass.

Posted on 2/21/25 11:14AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Motorist on Local Warrant after North-City Traffic Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist on an outstanding warrant last night after a traffic stop in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a dark-colored sedan driven by 46-year-old Elliott Ivan Thomas, Jr., near the corner of NE 6th and Savage streets on Thursday at 10:27 p.m.. Police said they stopped Elliott for a vehicle lighting violation and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for violating a court order related to an arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Elliott was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail without incident.

Posted on 2/21/25 11:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited Motorist for Violations after Redwood Avenue Traffic Stop

Grants Pass Police cited a motorist for two violations following a traffic stop in the Redwood area late last night. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by a man they identified as "Jesse Vaughn-Silva" in the 1900-block of Redwood Avenue on Thursday at 11:50 p.m.. Police said they observed the muddy vehicle with unreadable license plates and registration stickers and stopped it as it was pulling into the T&C Market. They said Vaughn-Silva was driving with a suspended license and without a required ignition interlock device. Officers said Vaughn-Silva showed signs of impairment and there was an odor of alcohol and marijuana coming from his person. He admitted to taking a shot of whiskey and smoking pot two hours before the traffic stop. He was field-tested and the results were negative. Vaughn-Silva was cited to appear in court for Driving While Suspended and Failure to Install an Ignition Interlock Device. He was warned for Improper Display of Registration Stickers and told next time his vehicle would be towed.

Posted on 2/21/25 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Young Motorist and Looking for Sister after High-Speed Pursuit

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a young motorist and were looking for his sister after they led deputies on a high-speed pursuit in the Grants Pass area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 22-year-old Jesse Louis Tillet at a home in the SE Riverside Avenue area late Wednesday night. Deputies said the incident began when they contacted Tillet and his sister in separate vehicles for trespassing after hours at Lathrop Boat Landing. The pair took off toward Grants Pass on Lower River Road at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour. According to the report, the pursuit continued on Lincoln Road, G Street and 9th Street to Riverside Avenue where deputies spotted Tillet's vehicle parked outside a residence. He was placed into custody without further incident. The second vehicle driven by his sister was not found. Tillet was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail pending his arraignment.

Posted on 2/21/25 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Woman on Felony Warrants after Reported Motel Disturbance

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman on two local felony warrants after responding to a reported disturbance at north-city motel this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 39-year-old Melissa B. Cranmer at the Buona Serra Motel on NE 6th Street on Wednesday evening. Police said the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call about a male and female fighting in a motel room. The unidentified caller advised they heard yelling and saw a man drag a woman into the room by her hair. They said they also heard someone slammed against the wall. According to the report, Cranmer and a man identified as "Leo Kropp" had been living at the motel for weeks and there had been ongoing problems. Officers arrived on scene and contacted Cranmer who claimed there was no fight. She showed no signs of injury so a medical response was canceled. However, a routine records check showed she was wanted on Jackson County and Medford felony warrants for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Theft. Cranmer was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 2/21/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Frequent Flyer on Warrant after Riverside Park Complaint

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender on an outstanding warrant this week after a reported disturbance at Riverside Park. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 37-year-old Bradley Andrew Peckham at the city park on Wednesday night. Police said a person at TapRock Northwest Grill called 9-1-1 to report a woman screaming for help at Riverside Park near the playground. The caller said they also saw some people walking to the park restroom. Responding officers observed Peckham in the parking lot near the Rogue River and knew him from numerous law enforcement contacts. After contacting him, they discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Disorderly Conduct, Escape and 3rd-Degree Theft. Peckham was placed into custody and lodged on the warrant at the Josephine County Jail. Officers were unable to locate any subjects arguing in the area.

Posted on 2/21/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

DDeputies Snared Woman on Local Warrant after Brief Chase in Cave Junction

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman on a local warrant after chasing her down in Cave Junction. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies spotted 37-year-old Sabrina Marie Wilson in the 300-block of South Junction Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said they were familiar with Wilson and knew that she was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for 3rd-Degree Theft and Possession of Fentanyl. She took off running toward Caves Highway when she spotted them, but they were able to track her down and place her into custody. Wilson was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. Deputies made a stop at the Kerbyville Museum to adjust handcuffs.

Posted on 2/21/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Firefighters Extinguished Lithium-Ion Battery Fire at Local Recycling Depot

Grants Pass firefighters knocked down a fire at a local metal recycling facility on Thursday. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue crews arrived to find an active lithium-ion battery fire in a pile of unsorted debris at the unnamed recycling depot. Firefighters worked to cool the blaze with water while using large fans to clear smoke from the building. Once the fire was extinguished, crews collaborated with facility staff, using heavy equipment to separate the debris and ensure the fire was completely out. Fire officials said lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should never be placed in household garbage or recycling bins. They can ignite fires during transport or at landfills and recycling facilities. Officials said these batteries should be disposed of at designated recycling or household hazardous waste collection points.

Posted on 2/21/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh